Archive for the 'Film' Category

Films About Ghosts

13 Comments |
March 21, 2008
| Film

It’s hard to believe it’s been a year or more since I first watched the first chapter of 5 Centimeters Per Second. I made a pledge at the time not to watch the remaining two chapters until the day I had the entire film on DVD and in my hands. That day finally came today.

It was worth the wait.

I’ve praised the first chapter more than enough already, but I now realize I didn’t really understand the story it was trying to tell when I first watched it a year ago. The film may consist of three distinct parts, but the it’s the sum of those parts that truly matters most. I think it was half way through the “music video” in the final chapter that it finally hit me. It hit me so hard, in fact, that I had to stop myself from hitting the pause button and racing to the computer to write down all my thoughts on the subject. I know that the final chapter rubbed some people the wrong way with its unconventional presentation, but I thought it was absolutely brilliant. To unveil the entire story of the entire film, filling in the missing pieces never seen along the way, all in its final moments… that’s a hell of an ending.

But it’s still the sum of all parts. The second chapter left me the most impressed, actually. It was the most visually expressive of Makoto Shinkai’s work to date. I mean, the wind! And the clouds! Unlike his previous films, the backgrounds weren’t so much eye candy as they were characters within the story itself. And when the rocket blasted off into space at the chapter’s climax, I got to thinking about how all the work I’ve been doing this past month will be worth it when I can look up at the very same sight with my own two eyes and say, “I was part of that.” I really needed to see that, now more than ever.

In all honesty, a lot of Shinkai’s past work has left me nonplussed to the extent that I could never really write about it the way I’m writing right now. That’s always bothered me for some reason. I couldn’t understand how I could be so simultaneously impressed and annoyed by what he does, especially given how quick I am to impress and how slow I am to annoy when watching anime. I suppose he just wasn’t getting through to me. But not this time. He got through to me. He got through to me good.

If you haven’t taken the time yet to watch 5 Centimeters Per Second for yourself yet, you really should. Omo’s advice is good, of course - what I would give to see the film on the big screen - but you should at least consider purchasing it on DVD if it’s available where you live. It’s too pretty a piece of work not to watch in the highest quality attainable, and it’s got too much of Makoto Shinkai’s heart in it not to send a few dollars his and his production team’s way.

Moving Pictures

21 Comments |
November 5, 2007
| Film

I watched Millennium Actress for the first time in ages this evening. I can’t remember when I last watched it, to be honest. As incredible a film that as it may be, it rarely calls out to me when I’m scanning my DVD collection, looking for something to watch. Nor is it the most entertaining of Satoshi Kon’s films; I’d give Tokyo Godfathers the nod in that respect. However, I think it’s his most interesting film, at least from a conceptual standpoint. It’s funny how it practically teeters on the edge of collapse for an hour and a half. Perhaps that’s why I go so long between viewings. It’s as frustrating as it is wonderful.

Once the end credits rolled, however, I got to thinking about theatrical anime. Or the lack thereof. If you ask me to list the most influential anime films of the past year, only Byousoku 5 Centimeter comes to mind. The previous year, only Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo and Tales from Earthsea. It seems that, in any given year, you can count the number of major anime theatrical features on one hand. Yet, in the same time period, somewhere in the neighborhood of a hundred new TV series will debut.

I suppose there’s not much of a market for anime films. Only major releases from Studio Ghibli and movies associated with popular TV shows seem to perform well at the box office. However, Studio Ghibli can only release a new film every couple of years. And even though Naruto and Pokeman movies are a dime a dozen, I don’t think anyone cares all that much with the exception of the children of Japan. Every few years, something unique will come along and capture the public’s attention - the aforementioned Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo, for example - but it almost seems as if animated theatrical features are more an oddity in Japan than they are here in the United States. Funny, ain’t it?

And just as anime films have become rare, so have direct to video OAV releases. The OAV format was fairly popular as late as the 90s - I suspect it had something to do with Laserdiscs being well-suited to OAV length episodes - but it almost seems as if the age of the OAV has since come and gone. Yes, you still see some single episode releases and follow-on TV series specials, but true, multi-episode, standalone OAV series have become a rare sight indeed.

It’s a shame, really. TV series have long been the bread and butter of the anime industry, of course, but a lot of stories are better suited to film or OAV format. After all, how many times have you finished a twelve episode TV series and thought to yourself, “that would have worked better as a six episode OAV?”

A lot of times, I’d imagine.

Two Feet, Firmly Planted

15 Comments |
June 29, 2007
| Film

One of the nice things about my job is that, in exchange for working an extra hour each day, I get every other Friday off. You’d be amazed what a three day weekend every other week does for your mind, body, and soul. It’s like getting two miniature vacations each month.

Anyway, this being my off Friday, I used the afternoon to watch Whisper of the Heart, and while doing so, I was reminded of how weird an anime fan I can be at times. See, unlike most anime fans, I don’t worship Studio Ghibli. That’s not to say I dislike the studio’s work. Rather, I’ve never had reason to place their films up on any sort of lofty pedestal. I admit that their films are some of the best the medium has to offer, but there are other studios out there doing similarly impressive work. A single Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo has as much value as two Ghibli films combined, I think.

But, as for why this thought came to mind while watching Whisper of the Heart… well, suffice it to say, it’s one of my favorite Ghibli films. It’s one of only three Ghibli films that I can rewatch again and again and get a little something new out of each time. The other two films? Only Yesterday and Umi ga Kikoeru. Of course, there’s something that sets these three films apart from the rest of the Ghibli lineup: they’re grounded in reality. Well, that and the fact that not a single one is directed by Hayao Miyazaki (which is another subject in itself). But it’s because they eschew fantasy for the real world that I love them so darn much. There’s nothing epic about them. Their charms are found in their characters and the little events that shape their lives. Sure, they have stories, but those stories more or less provide a framework around which the characters go about their days and nights. And, yes, they have themes, but those themes never weigh the films down or get in the way of what simple story is there, waiting to be told. If you sit up and take notice, that’s great. If you don’t, no problem.

Of course, these are the elements of any classic slice-of-life story. And, as you no doubt already know, I’m a slice-of-life freak. So, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that I prefer these three particular Ghibli films to their more fantastical counterparts.

Unfortunately, all three films were made within a few years of each other in the early 90s, a mere deviation from the fairy tale lined path Studio Ghibli has otherwise followed. And, even as other studios and directors pick up the slack, I can’t help but wonder if Studio Ghibli will ever ground itself in reality once again and produce another slice-of-life film that I can sit back and enjoy on a lazy and sunny Friday afternoon. Kondo Yoshifumi, who directed Whisper of the Heart and was expected to be the future of Studio Ghibli, died unexpectedly in 1998. However, word on the street is that Only Yesterday director Takahata Isao is finally working on a new film, so…

Getting There is Half the Fun…

13 Comments |
February 28, 2007
| Film

Even though the first chapter of Makoto Shinkai’s 5 Centimeters Per Second was released online a week or so ago, I only watched it for the first time last night. I was worried the online release would be of poor video quality, and since incredible visuals are what Makoto Shinkai does best, I was reluctant to watch it, knowing a higher quality DVD release would be coming sooner rather than later. But, given how much I’ve been anticipating the film’s release, I should’ve realized that resistance was futile.

And I’m glad I went ahead and watched it, because the online release looks spectacular for what it is. But, that’s not really all that important. What of the episode itself?

Amazing. Truly amazing.

As much adoration as I have for Makoto Shinkai as a Director, I’ve always found his previous works lacking in one way or another. There are things he obviously does extremely well, but at the same time, you could always tell he was still “learning”, so to speak. And, while watching his growth and evolution as a Director has been a fascinating and eye-opening experience in its own right, I’ve always looked forward to that inevitable day when Shinkai would finally get everything “right” and leave me absolutely speechless.

Admittedly, I think he did it by appealing to my inner train otaku. I don’t recall ever riding the Tohoku Line very far, but it doesn’t really matter. All JR East lines look the same. The signs look the same. The platforms look the same. The trains have the same atmosphere, regardless of model. And, just as Takaki stood near the door for nearly his entire trip, refusing to sit despite the empty car, I saw myself doing the same. I never liked to sit, either. And, sometimes, if I had the time, I’d travel a long distance on a local train, even if it meant arriving at my destination an hour later. For some reason, all of the little stops made me feel like I was going somewhere new and unknown - even if it was somewhere I’d been many times before.

Damn nostalgia.

There’s more to come, too. Of all the locations for the second chapter to take place, why did it have to be Kagoshima? It’s as if Shinkai’s trying to get me to drop everything, buy a plane ticket, and go visit some old friends…

5 Centimeters Per Second Trailer

16 Comments |
November 20, 2006
| Film, News

Just last night, I stumbled upon the old teaser for Makoto Shinkai’s 5 Centimeters Per Second and thought to myself, “Isn’t it about time for a new trailer?”

Yup.

Just like last time, a high definition version is available. You can download it here. Note that the trailer will only be available for a week, so grab it while you can.

I would advise having a towel on hand, by the way… you’ll probably have to clean some drool from your keyboard.