The Lackluster Invasion

Hello, how’s everyone’s summer going? I recently got a job as a graphic design intern so that’s been keeping me busy. Lately, all I’ve been updating is my design blog here, but I do still wander over here to see the comments and such. Speaking of which, I would really appreciate it if comments are in English. I know a lot of you are from other countries, but I can’t understand your comment if it’s not in English. Thank you. Okay, now to the point of this post.

This year (and part of last year) was suppose to be a very big event in terms of Asian actors and actresses in American cinema. However, most of the movies were not produce well or have any sort of enticing plot. Is it the director’s fault not being able to fully utilize these actors well? What is it? You be the judge.

1. Speed Racer (opened May of 2008): One of the first movie to start off the “Asian Invasion” as I was calling it. Starring Korean singer and actor Rain, it was directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski who directed the famous Matrix movies. Having a big budget and backed by major  corporations like Target, McDonald’s, and more, the film did poorly at the box office and became one of the biggest bombs for Warner Brothers. Rain had a few lines in the entire movie and from what I understand didn’t appear much either.

   

2. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (opened May of 2009): One of the lucky few that went on to be quite the blockbuster. Daniel Henney is a Korean-American actor who played Agent Zero in the movie with superb shooting skills. Despite being able to speak perfect English, he didn’t say much and died by the mid-point in the movie.

   

3. Blood: The Last Vampire (opened July of 2009): I was looking forward to this movie the most because it starred my favorite actress Jun Ji-hyun who adopted the American name Gianna Jun for the American audience. She played the main character Saya who hunts high-level vampires. The movie was released on limited screens across the US, but not where I live unfortunately. It did poorly and was harshly criticized for bad special effects and bad acting from the supporting actors.

What’s to come…

1. The Warrior’s Way (formerly titled The Laundry Warrior) – opening August of 2009: Starring one of the most renowned Korean actors Jang Dong-gun, the movie stars Jang as a warrior living in the the “American badland.” Not sure where that is except maybe the West, Jang stars alongside the likes of Kate Bosworth. The film is being produced by Barrie Osborne who produced the Lord of the Rings movie. Again, I have high hopes for this movie. The title sounds like a comedy, which is always a win in my book.

   

2. Ninja Assassin - opening November of 2009: Rain tries again at international stardom with this movie. Movie poster for the movie is out and it seems pretty well made and executed. Hopefully that translate to the overall film as well. I’m not much of an action-movie fan let alone one with flying body parts and blood so I can’t really say I’m excited to see this. I wish Rain lots of success with this movie though.

Departures – R

Yes, that was quite an absense. I’ve been busy with my artistic life lately: entering in design contest, working on my online portfolio, etc, but hey no one wants to hear about that. ^^ I recently caught a limited release movie call Departures which won the Academy Awards this year for Best Foreign Language Film. The movie’s website link is here. Try to catch it if you can!

Directed by Yojiro Takita
Releasted in 2009
Overall Rating: A+

Main Cast: Actors / Characters

Masahiro Motoki as Daigo Kobayashi
Ryoko Hirosue as Mika Kobayashi
Tsutomu Yamazaki as Shouei Sasaki (President of NK Agency)
Kimiko YO as Yuriko Uemura (employee at NK Agency)

Daigo is an aspiring celloist since he was young. He finally got his dream job playing for a major orchestra in Tokyo. Unfortunately, they play to an empty house most of the time which eventually leads to the ievitable — the orchestra disbands. Without any income, Daigo solds his expensive cello (or returns it…I wasn’t too clear on that) and worriedly suggests to his wife Mika they should return to his hometown where his deceased mother left him a house.  Luckily, she smiles and says, “Yes!” While looking through the newspaer, Daigo spots an ad for a “Depatures” company call NK Agency. Thinking it must be a travel agency, he was quite alarmed to learn that it’s a company that specialize in dressing the corpse before they are either buried or cremated. Desperate for money, he takes the job but tries his best to keep his profession a secret. Life is like the brilliant rainbow and death is the fading end of that rainbow. Sometimes it ends abructly, but other times it concludes peacefully over a river. Watch and see how Daigo deals with the death of strangers to the deaths of those close to him.