Job Discussion Forums

luckyloser700 · Joined: 24 Mar 2006 Posts: 308 Location: Japan

Someone posted about good reads. I read whenever I can. But I also like to grab a DVD from Tsutaya once in awhile, especially when I've had enough of hitting the town. Some decent recent rents are:

"Syriana"
"Munich", and
"Jarhead"

I like indies and foreign films, too.
Any recommendations? Seen anything good lately?

seanmcginty · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 203

My favorite movie with a Japan theme is "Mr. Baseball" starring Tom Selleck. I'm not sure if I like it because its a good movie or because I have a pleasant memory of the time I rented it and that mental association makes me like it. Anyway, thats my favorite.

Birdog3344 · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 126 Location: Osaka, Japan

Originally saw 'The Insider' a few years back but recently revisited it and loved it. Pacino's performance is just amazing, reminded me of his early stuff, 'Serpico' and 'Dog Day Afternoon.'

The release of 'Udon' makes me think of my favorite Japanese film (also on my Top 10 list), 'Tampopo', a story about the search for the perfect bowl of ramen. Any chance the 'Udon' DVD will be available with English subtitles?

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

if you like being somewhat disturbed watch "Old Boy", its a japanese movie

natsume · Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 409 Location: Chongqing, China

"Old Boy" is Korean....

I really like Hirakazu Kore-Eda's "After Life", you die, go to an office that specializes in recreating your best memory, the one you will take with you into eternity, you just have to figure out what that is...he uses professional and nonprofessional actors, the feel of the film is very natural. It's a thought provoking and beautiful little movie.

BrytSyde · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 20 Location: Orange County, CA

lucky loser

here is some good indie and foriegn films you ight enjoy:

Motorcycle Diaries

Lagaan

I heart Huckabees

The Corporation

I see you you like politcally themed so i think you will really like these selections, the corporation is a documentry style movie but its really good..

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

woops...I thought for sure it was korean...but its weird enough to be japanese.

Try "My left eye sees ghosts", funny

Eva Pilot · Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 2:18 am Post subject:

Infernal Affairs - the greatest film of the 21st Century so far.

Bondi Tsunami - Stunning surreal film about Japanese surfers travelling in Australia.

My Lucky Star - Very funny HK comedy about fate and star signs.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

I agree: Tampopo is FUNNY! Recently I also watched a Korean comedy (a few years old now) that had me in stitches -- the title translates to: "Attack the Gas Station."

If anyone is interested in seeing either of these films, please PM me and I may be able to tell you how to get your hands on a copy that has English subtitles -- as the ones you rent/buy in Japan will not.

cornishmuppet · Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Posts: 642 Location: Nagano, Japan

I enjoyed X-Men 3 recently. Best of the lot I reckon. Saying that, you can't rent it yet.

fluffyhamster · Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 9:23 am Post subject:

Why all the Japanese or SE Asian movies? The OP wasn't asking about them in particular. Anyway, has anybody seen 'The New World' yet?

'Syriana' was good, but I think I prefer 'Traffic'. 'Munich', certainly worth seeing, but maybe I should've waited for 'One Day in September' instead (it's just come out on DVD in Japan) - Kevin MacDonald and his team are definitely documentary film-makers to watch if 'Touching the Void' is anything to go by ('One Day...' came first, by the way).

One of the most recent DVDs I've watched is 'A History of Violence'. I've never quite understood the ultimate point of supposedly violent "anti-violence" movies (why not go make a film about fluffy bunnies instead), especially if a viewer "accepts" violence enough to watch it pretty impassively, but this movie is certainly a lot better than, say, 'Natural Born Killers' (there's a palpable sense of loss at the end); then again, if you want to see Viggo playing totally different to Aragorn/Strider, you can't beat 'G.I. Jane' (a guilty pleasure I've put in my 'Absolute, yet pretty enjoyable, TRASH' pile, along with 'Wild Things' etc etc).

Oh, for what it's worth, 'Batman Begins' beats the p*nts off of the X-Men series, even if Hugh Jackman could beat Christian Bale to a pulp.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

TK4Lakers · Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 159

Good Japanese samurai film: "Ran" by Akira Kurosawa

Good anime film: "Hotaru No Haka" (Grave of Fireflies) by Miyzaka

Good foreign film: "Amelie" by...forget, but a feel good French film

callmesim · Joined: 27 Oct 2005 Posts: 279 Location: London, UK

For a fun action movie that doesn't treat you like a 4 year old child - "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang".

Saw it at the movies and again recently and it was just as good as I remembered it!

Birdog3344 · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 126 Location: Osaka, Japan

I asked in my earlier post and nobody responed so I'll try again 'cause I'm curious. What are the chances 'Udon' will have an English subtitles option?