Hi everyone! Final exam week is almost over and I am near the home-stretch. I will have a review or two up for you guys sometime this month. Speaking of reviews, if anyone has been checking out my About page lately, you’ll know the news that I’m telling you all today. I’ve decided to officially concentrate on reviewing Asian drama/movies from now on instead of posting about everything in between. I think this way will be easier for me and for future readers who will know what to expect whenever there’s a new post. Since I’m mainly posting reviews from now on, I will not have a schedule as to how often I’ll post something since it takes a while for me to finish something (drama wise anyway).

I’m also bringing back the Upcoming Review page to let readers know what’s coming up next. It’ll also be a way to motivate myself to finish something and get a review out. See you all soon!

Directed by Hirokazu Koreeda
Released in 2004
Based on a true story
Overall Rating: A

Main Casts:
Actors & Actresses / Characters

Yuuya Yagira / Akira
Ayu Kitaura / Kyoko
Hiei Kimura / Shigeru
Momoko Shimizu / Yuki
Hanae Kan / Saki
You (stage name for Ehara Yukiko) / Keiko

Based on a true event in Japan in 1988 known as the “Affair of the four abandoned children of Sugamo,” (Wikipedia) the movie begins with a mother (Keiko) and her son (Akira) introducing themselves to their landlord as they are moving in. They give each other a knowing look when two heavy suitcases were being delivered. After the movers have left, the two begins unpacking opening the large suitcases first. Inside are not computers, DVD players, or a ton of brick, but instead each suitcases was housing a child. They are the youngest children in the family: Shigeru and Yuki (the youngest). Akira later picks up a girl at a station about the same age as he is who is too big to fit into a suitcase. The foursome are siblings with the same mother but different fathers. The reason behind hiding the existence of the other three children was never explicitly stated in the movie, but it was probably because the children did not have any official paperwork (Social Security #, birth certificate, etc) as their mother did not allow anyone to attend school. It might also because the movie is based on a highly televised event that everyone in Japan is aware of the story’s background. Nonetheless, the story begins with this quirky setting and a unique happiness that surrounds this family. However, within a few weeks after moving in, Keiko finds a new boyfriend and is smitten with him. One day, she tells her children that she’ll be away for awhile and leave Akira in charge with 50,000 yen (about $500), but promises to be back by new year. Nine months pass and Christmas rolls around. She did not return. So what will become of the children that nobody knows about?

(from the left) Akira, Yuki, Kyoko, and Shigeru waiting behind a screen for their mother.

The event that unfolds in this movie seems something out of a fiction novel, but knowing that it is based on a true event really sends shivers down my spine. The movie presents an interesting take on motherhood and children’s devotion to their mother and their siblings. From a telephone call in the movie, it is learned that Keiko works at a clothing store probably as a saleswoman. With irregular hours and coming home late most of the time, the children still patiently waits for their mother and leave her a share of the supper. Still a young woman, Keiko still appears to take on the role of motherhood to the best of her ability. Though she misses going out with her friends to be home with the kids, she still voluntarily chooses to be home. Despite so, I find her decision to leave her kids alone for almost a year a crime against moral, sanity, and motherhood! Her reckless behavior to have four children from four different men ultimately translates into her parenting as well. It makes me wonder if this kind of thing has happened before whenever she’s in love with someone new and forget about her kids. As for the children, not being allow to go outside or be loud while indoors to conceal their existence, the four children are siblings and best friends to one another. Despite their mother’s absence during most of the day, Akira, Kyoko, Shigeru, and Yuki all help each other to their best knowledge. Their devotion to each other is almost equaled to that for their absentee mother. After Keiko has left for quite some time, on Yuki’s birthday, her present was the chance to wear her prettiest outfit and shoes (which doesn’t quite fit her feet anymore) and go looking for her outside. They never did find her, but the children all hope for her return reaffirming each other that, “she’ll be back next week for sure.”

Kyoko and Yuki enjoying each other's company.

I can’t say much about You’s acting in the movie as she was only there at the very beginning, but her portrayal of a half-hearted mother must have been excellent to win her a Best Supporting Actress award in the 2005 Japanese Academy Award (Wikipedia). It was more so her absence that drives the movie forward. The child actors and actresses in this movie did a remarkable job in my opinion. I’m not sure how long they’ve been acting, but every scene was very natural and intimate. Momoko Shimizu’s portrayal of Yuki was very much like Setsuko from Grave of the Fireflies. I wouldn’t be surprise if she drew reference from that character since there’s a similarity in situation for both there. Yuuga Yagira, who played the lead as the oldest child Akira, did a superb job and won the Best Actor at the 57th Cannes Film Festival in 2004. Being the only one who can come outside, instead of running off everyday, he make sure to get as much food and water for his siblings before returning home. His portrayal of being a kid forced into an adult role was compelling and endearing. He yearns for friendship, an education, and someone to play baseball with, but pushes it all aside. Fortunately or unfortunately (you’ll have to make the decision), when Keiko did not return after so long, he took a short break from his role and instead chose to spend the little amount of money left on two friends he met at the arcade and played a game of baseball for a school when they were short one player. His decisions bring about consequences of their own which effected him and his siblings as well. The other supporting child actors played their part with excellence and ultimately make the story more cohesive.

Shigeru standing on the bacony.

The topic of this movie is nothing short of controversial, but Director Hirokazu Koreeda presents a soft, quiet, and caring atmosphere to this dysfunctional family that I find incredibly interesting. This is surely a sad event that have transpired for the four children, but the movie not only shows the sadness of their lives but also their happiness from being together. Of course, this only pulls on your heart string whenever something bad happen to the kids. This movie did not aim to teach anyone anything, but present itself more so as a narrative. It depicts the lives of four children and their struggle to survive while at the same time enjoy the meaning of childhood. My only qualm is the ending left me hanging a bit with no real pointers as to what will happen to everyone. After I digest everything, I figures maybe it’s best that the viewers is able to come up with their own ending. In real life, the children’s identities were kept secret and no one knows who they are or how they end up anyway. I only wish that everyone find a happy ending.

Popular Japanese drama, Liar Game, is coming back this November with a SECOND SEASON! A movie is also in the works for February of 2010. Source: Tokyograph.

Erika Toda (playing Nao Kanzaki) and Shota Matsuda (playing Shinichi Akiyama) are expected to reprise their roles. We last left off the show with Nao and Shinichi successfully completing the Liar Game without causing anyone to be hugely indebted or incredible rich. In the new season, the characters are going to enter another game. Not much details are being leaked, but I hope it’ll be as climatic as season one.

Hi everyone. So I just want to give a quick update on what I’m doing and what’s happening next for Thoughts on the Asian Stage. I started my senior year of college 2 weeks ago. Schedule is tight as I have class and work but I thankfully have the weekends off. When I find time, I will devote it to this blog for sure. The most important thing for me right now is of course school and my job (I am doing a Graphic Design intern at a small company!) I will most likely be posting news related to Asian cinema more so than reviews for awhile since its quicker, but reviews will still be coming. It’s make make the “Thoughts” of this blog after all.

What I’ve seen (that might be reviewed for you readers):

• Ponyo – Such a peaceful yet still captivating movie. It’s somewhat on the short side being only 1hr 42/43min long. I think it’s the shortest Miyazaki film so far.
• Thirty Thousand Miles in Search of My Son – A Kdrama about a mother who lost her son while out shopping. I know it sounds like it’s the mother’s fault, but it was her evil husband that committed the crime! Why? He just want a reason to divorce her. The scoundrel. The whole drama’s about her search for her son and the people she meet. It’s pretty heart-warming.

What I want to see:

• The Last Scandal of my Life – I hear it’s really good. I’ve been avoiding it because the lead actress committed suicide a few months after the drama wrapped. I feel if I see it, I’ll really start to miss her.
• My Fair Lady – Yoon Eun Hye comeback project! I can’t wait to see her in action again after her severely long hiatus after Coffee Prince.

Some new regulations:

I am going to regulate the comments a bit more carefully from now on because it’s a big part of this blog. I want my readers to interact with each other and talk about the drama/movie, but what I will no longer permit is:

• Comments such as “I love Min Ho.” “Hello, Yoon Eun Hye. I really admire you. Thank you for your hard-work.” One, I am not Yoon Eun Hye so saying that on my blog is just weird. Two, this is not the place for you to broadcast your love for your celebrity. You can make your own blog if that’s the case and say whatever you want.
• Please comment in English from now on. I’ve already deleted a lot of comment because a lot of people have disregard my post politely asking everyone to post in English. If I can’t understand what you’re writing, then it can’t stay. What if you’re saying something nasty and I’m not in on it? Huh? I know English, Vietnamese, and Japanese. Post in any of the 3 languages.

Thanks again for your support, and I will see you soon.

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.

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.

Daigo and his wife Mika

A remarkably light-hearted film on such a somber subject-matter. Sasaki, the head of NK Agency, provides some funny one-liners and Daigo provides the rest with his nervousness and bewilderment that comes with the job. The humor is quick in delivery and vanishes just as fast as it appears keeping things on a semi-serious mood throughout the movie. Another great thing about this movie is how peacefully the actions occur. The plot moves along like a gentle stream letting the viewers sulk in what they’ve witnessed and process what they’ve heard. The director’s aim appears to not be forceing the viewers to see death the way he sees it, but instead only ask the viewers to think about death and form his/her own opinion. Many thinks death is the end, but there are many other interpretations in which the movie delves upon. Many also avoids death and think of those working around it as someone unholy and unclean. Daigo initially thinks the same way, but something about Sasaki’s respect for the dead and the dressing ceremony convince him to stick with the job.

Sasaki performing the dressing ceremony or "encoffination" process

Themes about death is naturally present, but I think the movie focus moreso on the living and how one deals with death that is more important. Death is all around us:  in the news, on the newspaper, even on our dinner table. As Sasaki puts it, “The living must eat the dead to survive.” However, one does not think about death until it comes knocking on our door or on someone close to us. Some don’t appreciate the person until he/she is gone. Others are deserted and no one even cares until the dead body is decayed and the smell unberable. Daigo is someone unfamiliar with death as his dad left him when he was young and his mom died while he was abroad. With his new profession, he is both afraid and fascinated by death and the people it touches and leaves behind. Daigo represents a little bit of all of us as he tries to understand death and the conclusion it brings. A clever movie with much to teach. A refreshing cinematic work that is insightful and endearing.

It took quite awhile to do this review. This is the longest Korean drama I have ever watched. Despite being draggy, it managed to keep my attention.

Broadcast in 2005
28 total episodes
Overall Rating: B+

Main Cast: Actors / Characters

Lee Yo Weon as Han Duh Mi (born Ko Joon Hee)
Kim Min Jung as Ko Joon Hee (born Kang Hee)
Joo Jin Mo as Kim Dong Young
Chun Jung Myung as Jang Bin

Jun In Taek as Joon Hee’s father
Song Ok Sook as Lee Yang Ja (Kang Hee’s mother)
Lee Hye Young as Jang Bong Sil (Bin’s mother)

Fashion 70s is one of the first drama to focus on the fashion design industry as the main back-drop for the story. Unfortunately, it has too many back-drops in combination with the main one. The show starts off with the Korean war and two families that will be affected because of this war. Two daughters, Joon Hee and Kang Hee, were separated from their family and ultimately adopted by the opposite family due to various reasons. Themes of identity, family, and love are all a part of this show. In the end, fashion only played a small part in this so-call fashion drama. Even though it’s not a big deal, I feel if you are going to focus on something you should do it with justice. The multitudes of back-drops really makes the story in cohesive.

Identity crisis is one of the main theme in this drama so let me explain it before moving onward. Kang Hee is the daughter of Lee Yang Ja. Joon Hee is the daughter of Mr. Ko. Kang Hee is adopted by Mr. Ko because he thought his daughter died during the war. He then renamed Kang Hee with his daughter’s name Joon Hee. Meanwhile Joon Hee lost her memory due to an accident and was adopted by Kang Hee’s mom and renamed as Han Dul Mi. Thus, both girls lost their identity due to their parent figure. Throughout the show, again and again, it is the adults who somehow destroy things despite their good intentions. From wars to fragile relationship, adults inadvertently wrecked things and causes a malignant ripple effect upon the children. When the children grows up, somehow fashion design was able to bring them all together after years of separation and the quest to unravel Dul Mi’s real identity begins.

Like I said, this is a drama that is suppose to focus on fashion. It’s called Fashion 70s after all. Strangely, fashion only plays a minor role in that it helped Dul Mi and Joon Hee to meet because both girls want to be fashion designer. Throughout the show, there’s also a side story with the Korean CIA organization for some action (I suppose). The entire show was loosely string together somehow through the struggle of Dul Mi and Joon Hee and how they deal with their new identity and the eventual day when they regain their real identity. Because this aspect of the show is the strongest and most poignant, I wish it would’ve been just this as the main plot driver. Unfortunately, it was not and that really hurts the show’s overall enjoyment.

Actress Kim Ming Jun really stole the show, in my opinion. Her depiction of a person with no real identity is both moving and powerful. Her identity as Joon Hee was forced upon her until she had almost forgotten who she really is. Her actions at the beginning foretold her as Dul Mi’s contrast and nemesis. Despite so, she does not ever come off as a villain. Her struggle with doing things that can both help Dul Mi but in effect causes her to lose what she have is something not many can pull off. Kim Ming Jun plays the part beautifully and the better actor of the entire show. Overall, it is her acting and the identity plot-line that save this show from going over the deep end.

Hello, hello! I am finally done with school (actually I’ve been done for 2 weeks now and have been getting some much needed sleep). Recently, I’ve been watching a 2005 Korean drama called Fashion 70’s so I might have a review for it soon. For today, I want to report a very fascinating news story that seems right out of a Korean drama series.

Born on the same day in 1953 at the same hospital (Pioneer Memorial Hospital) in Oregon, two girls’ fate will forever be changed. After returning for their baths, Kay Rene Reed Qualls and DeeAnn Angell Shafer were accidentally switched by the nurses and returned to the wrong mothers!

Marjorie Angell, true mother of Kay Qualls, insisted in 1953 that her baby had been switched but sadly no one believes her. Growing up, this rumor plays out in the background of the family with no real evidence. Finally, after 56 years and one DNA test, the truth is finally revealed. Kay Qualls should be Kay Shafer and DeeAnn Shafer should be DeeAnn Qualls.  SOURCE: Yahoo News

I see this scenario so many times in drama series and even movie, but seeing it in real life makes me wonder if other outlandish things in movies are actually based on true stories. I can’t imagine what I would feel if I suddenly find out the family I’ve know for years aren’t really my family. Then again, is family only defined by blood? I wish those two women lots of happiness and the continue support of their families.

Hey all. I’m breaking away from my schoolwork to report to you about this new movie. Once I saw the trailer, I just had to post it up here for everyone to know about it.

The movie is called Treeless Mountain directed by So Yong Kim. The name of the movie alone intrigues me. The basic storyline from what I gather is two young Korean girls (Jin and Bin) are left in the care of their aunt by their mother while she looks for the girls’ father. The mother tells her daughters that once they fill up a plastic piggy bank that she gave them, she will return by then. Other minutes details of the movie are yet unknown, but I’m hoping it’ll be one of those calm yet powerful movie like Il Mare.

A quote from the trailer pretty much peaks my interest even more in that it says the movie portrays the “…quiet resilience of children.” I thought about my own childhood and how I could force myself to wake up freakishly early in the morning to catch the cartoon shows and now I can barely get up by noon. When did this resilience get lost? Maybe this movie will tell me.

I saw this movie just yesterday at 10 and stayed up late to midnight just to finish it. What an awesome movie. That’s why I’m writing a review now to spread the love.

Release in 2008
Directed by Jeong Yoon-chul 
Overall Rating: A+

Main Cast: Actors / Characters

Jun Ji-hyun as Song Soo-jung
Hwang Jeong-min as Lee Hyun-suk 

I’d like to start this review off with a quote from “Superman” in the movie.

“Strenghts don’t open big, iron doors but a small key. We all have a key inside of us…to open the door to a new future.”

Song Soo-jung is a long-time TV show producer who has grown bored of the mechanics of her job. Doing the same thing years after years has removed all sparks from her. Furthermore, she hasn’t been paid in awhile. The reason wasn’t explicited stated, so I am assuming it’s because the studio hasn’t got a hit yet. Soo-jung decides to take the company’s camera as payment and go to Africa for a shoot. She lazily steps out of the office without a wave to her co-workers. As she waits for the train to come, she falls asleep and wakes up to find her camera (i.e. company’s camera) is stolen. She tries to run after the crook but can’t match his speed. Suddenly, a color bullet comes rushing by. It’s a man in a colorful Hawaiian printed shirt. He flies by everyone and quickly catches up to the thief. Scared, the thief runs off leaving his chaser exhausted on the ground and the camera too. When Soo-jung finds him, she checks for her camera first, then pour water on her savior to wakes him up. He quickly comes to and identifies himself as Superman. Apparantly, he’s well-known throughout the neighborhood to help out everyone and everything he sees. He explains he has lost his superpower because a piece of kryptonite is lodged in his brain. Soo-jung is puzzled but interested, this could be her next documentary and a big hit at that. Is this man really Superman? If not, what’s his reasons for helping out everyone at the expense of himself? Yet still, should there really be a reason to help out others?

Superman jumping out from under the cover to question why this lady is leaving her trash on the road?

A Man Who Was Superman (henceforth Superman for short) takes a look at how the common man treats his fellow man in the face of danger. Do we quickly step in to help the injured and helpless? Or do we become collectively known as the “bystander” who standby and looks on? Superman in the movie is naturally not a real Superman. His name is later revealed as Lee Hyun-suk. However, there really is something lodged in his brain and resulted to his current dilusions and heroic actions. At first, Soo-jung is a bit skeptical about his intentions and wary of his overall state of mind. However, after recording him for her documentary and spending more time with him, she realizes he really does practice what he preaches. He helps out others because it makes him happy. He explains the happiness will eventually get the kryptonite out to which will gives him his powers back. He also adds that by helping others, it is reminding him who he really is — Superman, someone who risks his life for others. His enthusiasm and strong believes sometime convince even Soo-jung herself that maybe he is capable of what he says. However, as the movie progresses, viewers will learn with Soo-jung of the real identity behind this modernday Superman. His name is Lee Hyun-suk, but who is he? What is his story? And how did he become Superman?

Superman almost flying off the roof.

This was truly one of those bittersweet movie that I’m so in love with. The story will definitely leaves an imprint on your mind after viewing it. There is a tie-in to the current global-warming crsis the Earth is in, but the tie-in actually works with the story and not just something added on later to make the movie “green.” Superman will cause viewers to think about themself and their actions toward others. Why are there always more bystanders than heroes? What do heroes usually get beside a hearty thank-you and a hug? People have always look toward someone to be the savior of the day. Superman points out that everyone can be the hero if they work together. Our fear of danger upon ourselfs retrains us from helping someone 5 feet infront of us. Society creates an artificial Superman to save the day, when really anyone can be this Superman character. The quote at the beginning of the review talks about this and is the main theme of the movie. Both leads in the movie also did a superb job. Jun Ji-hyun, who most people know of from My Sassy Girl plays a loud-mouth girl. Here she plays a bit of a quiet person whose job is to record and not intervene with her subject. Hwang Jeong-min is new to me, but he plays the over-the-top Superman with enthusiasm and never seem fake or too force. The movie is a bit sad, but not morbidly depressing either. Definitely a great watch. 

A close encounter between Superman and Soo-jung.

WARNING: Do Not read the Wikipedia article on this movie. The writer, whoever it is, is a big spoiler who practically reveals everything. Lucky for me, I read it after I watch the movie to gather info for this review.