千秋 D.
02-18-2009, 02:27 AM
Instead of studying for a entrance exam next week, I decided to shell out 1700 yen and spend an evening at the movie theater with Aoi Miyazaki :p
First, let me explain the plot of the story. Aoi Miyazaki plays the role of a 25-year old record label company employee, Kanna Kurita. On her last day of work, she stumbles across a video of a punk band’s live performance on Japan’s facebook-like site, Mixi. She was moved by the performance so much that she shows it to her boss and incidentally becomes in charge of getting the band to become a part of the company’s label. In all the excitement, the company sets up a nationwide tour for the band before Kanna finds out that the live performance she saw was not a recent one, but one that was done on the year of her birth. Kanna is now faced with the predicament of managing that same punk band that took and still takes punk to the extreme as well as the situation with the tour.
Let me first say that out of all the Japanese films I have seen so far in theaters, this movie was the most enjoyable. This is definitely a comedy by my standards and not one of those cheesy, happens in everyday life comedic movies. This film is a kick to the groin, brass-knuckle punch to the face, and a head-butt to your sense of humor. I think it’s probably summed up best in one of the first lines in the movie, “If you don’t have a Mohawk, you’re weak.”
The story itself was very interesting and it kept me guessing till the end. There’s a reason why this band didn’t get as popular as it should of back then and throughout the whole movie you find out why through flashbacks and interviews within the movie. The band and Aoi’s character had very good chemistry even though that they are unlikely the combination of a 25-year old female manager and a 50-year old punk band. Let’s just say that the band pushed Kanna’s patience and sanity all the way to outer space.
Out of all the roles I’ve seen Aoi Miyazaki in, this role of hers was most likely one of the more physically demanding ones. It’s pretty much a 180 degree turn from her role in Atsuhime. Aoi was doing a lot of running, yelling, whining and crying throughout the film. And I loved it. It was hilarious. Many of the comedic scenes involved her as well and she did better than I expected. Oh, and if you’re expecting to see a cute Aoi Miyazaki in this film, there are some scenes showing of her cuteness, but there were also scenes that you would never think to see her in.
As for the music in the movie, it’s not bad. But it was probably meant to be more of comedic feature to the movie rather than for aesthetic listening. Also, the title of the punk band’s song may be listed as “New York Marathon,” but the actual title and lyrics is totally different. ;)
Shonen Meriken Sakku!!! \m/
Go watch it or else Aoi Miyazaki will kick your ass.
Grade: A-/B+
First, let me explain the plot of the story. Aoi Miyazaki plays the role of a 25-year old record label company employee, Kanna Kurita. On her last day of work, she stumbles across a video of a punk band’s live performance on Japan’s facebook-like site, Mixi. She was moved by the performance so much that she shows it to her boss and incidentally becomes in charge of getting the band to become a part of the company’s label. In all the excitement, the company sets up a nationwide tour for the band before Kanna finds out that the live performance she saw was not a recent one, but one that was done on the year of her birth. Kanna is now faced with the predicament of managing that same punk band that took and still takes punk to the extreme as well as the situation with the tour.
Let me first say that out of all the Japanese films I have seen so far in theaters, this movie was the most enjoyable. This is definitely a comedy by my standards and not one of those cheesy, happens in everyday life comedic movies. This film is a kick to the groin, brass-knuckle punch to the face, and a head-butt to your sense of humor. I think it’s probably summed up best in one of the first lines in the movie, “If you don’t have a Mohawk, you’re weak.”
The story itself was very interesting and it kept me guessing till the end. There’s a reason why this band didn’t get as popular as it should of back then and throughout the whole movie you find out why through flashbacks and interviews within the movie. The band and Aoi’s character had very good chemistry even though that they are unlikely the combination of a 25-year old female manager and a 50-year old punk band. Let’s just say that the band pushed Kanna’s patience and sanity all the way to outer space.
Out of all the roles I’ve seen Aoi Miyazaki in, this role of hers was most likely one of the more physically demanding ones. It’s pretty much a 180 degree turn from her role in Atsuhime. Aoi was doing a lot of running, yelling, whining and crying throughout the film. And I loved it. It was hilarious. Many of the comedic scenes involved her as well and she did better than I expected. Oh, and if you’re expecting to see a cute Aoi Miyazaki in this film, there are some scenes showing of her cuteness, but there were also scenes that you would never think to see her in.
As for the music in the movie, it’s not bad. But it was probably meant to be more of comedic feature to the movie rather than for aesthetic listening. Also, the title of the punk band’s song may be listed as “New York Marathon,” but the actual title and lyrics is totally different. ;)
Shonen Meriken Sakku!!! \m/
Go watch it or else Aoi Miyazaki will kick your ass.
Grade: A-/B+