Don't really see posts that talk about Japanese and Korean films. I love watching movies and I'd even go for French, Italian or Spanish (provided the story/ plot is good) but I usually watch more English, Korean and Japanese film (occasionally HK films).

Recently on the flight to Japan and return, I managed to catch about 5 movies. Could have done more if it wasn't an overnight flight going to Tokyo need my beauty sleep so I tried to catch a snooze. Anyway had to wake up at 3.30am for breakfast so I got up and started watching shows.

But before that, let me start with the one I watched most recently at home (recorded it via Astro):

Japanese Films

The Miracles of Namiya General Store (ナミヤ雑貨店の奇蹟/ Namiya Zakkaten no Kiseki)



Plot Synopsis by AsianWiki ©

In 2012, Atsuya (Ryosuke Yamada) and his 2 childhood friends do something bad and run into an old general store. They decide to stay there until the morning. Late into the night, Atsuya sees a letter in the mailbox. The letter is addressed to the Namiya General Store and the letter was written by someone to consult about worries. Incredibly, the letter was written 32 years ago. The mailbox is somehow connected to the year 1980. Atsuya and his friends decide to write a reply and place their letter in the mailbox.

POV: It's certainly one of my favourite film now. Mysterious, heart warming and filled with hope, this is a wonderful film. The plot is brilliant and you'll start to connect the dots toward the end. I definitely cried watching this but if you don't, you ain't got a heart. Made of metal ya know

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That Winter, We Parted (去年の冬、きみと別れ/ Kyonen no Fuyu, Kimi to Wakare)



Plot Synopsis:

Yakumo Kyosuke is a book author who is interested in a fire-murder case related to a blind model, whereby photographer Zakayudai Kihara is a suspect. As Kihara was an alleged suspect in the case, Yakumo seeks to find the truth of the case. He started investigating Kihara and as he got deeper, that's when things became dangerous. It's a mystery-crime-thriller - things are more than meets the eye.

POV: I recommend this film -the story is good and it's unexpected. The pace and setting is nice as well. Also, since I've met Saito Takumi personally, i could not pass on watching his films! I'll also recommend Blank 13 later on, which I watched in last year's Japanese International Film Festival - the movie he came to KL to promote.

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Impossibility Defense (不能犯/ Funohan)



Plot Synopsis (adapted from SIA site):

Tadashi Usobuki is a contract killer who carries out his killings using methods which are impossible to prove. If you have someone you needed to kill, just go to a designated phone booth and slip your contact details underneath the phone. He calls up his clients and voluntarily remove the target, with the exception the killing motive has to be 'pure' (eg. not for revenge or to evade the law by not dirtying own hands). His unorthodox killing method made it hard for the police to arrest him even when he got captured on the CCTV or camera. One investigator hopes to put an end to his reign of terror.

POV: I just realized I'm really into dark films. Seems like I can't pass off anything with a tinge of 'dark' or mysterious aura to it loll. Anyway Impossibility Defense is worth your time. See the dark and silly side of humanity from the eyes of Usobuki and the detective after him. The film does remind me a little of Jigoku Shoujo obviously if you're into Hell Girl, this is a movie for you.

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Moving on to something lighter

Destiny: The Tale of Kamakura (DESTINY 鎌倉ものがたり/ DESTINY Kamakura Monogatari)



Plot Synopsis:
I don't really know where to begin... I guess it's where the protagonist, Masakazu Isshiki - a mystery writer, came back to his home in Kamakura with new wife Akiko, who is much younger than him. As Akiko started living in the house, she sees and experiences the magic of Kamakura - all sorts of magical creatures, spirits including divine beings - surrounding Kamakura.

POV: It's a fantasy movie and has that humour element in it. Warm and full of live, it's a movie to watch if you're into stuffs like these. I find it average but not too bad, as I was going to visit Kamakura and no, I didn't see any creature. Not even a kappa hahahahaha

So if you're looking for something to humour yourself with and also check out Kamakura, this is the one for you. In fact, they also showcased the Enoden (train) which I also rode in my trip!

POV: It's certainly one of my favourite film now. Mysterious, heart warming and filled with hope, this is a wonderful film. The plot is brilliant and you'll start to connect the dots toward the end. I definitely cried watching this but if you don't, you ain't got a heart. Made of metal ya know

Allow me to share my share of  Jap/Korean films that I like


Taiyou No Uta (Midnight Sun)



Synopsis



I watched this due to YUI (who played Kaoru) and I have this soft spots towards movies that has music elements in it. A coming of age kinda movie. Simple love story. Has its own sad moments but not enough to use tissues.


I Saw The Devil




Synopsis



A violent film (obviously), but as usual great (and sick) performance by Choi MIn Sik, (damn I love this guy, you will know him from OLDBOY). Its has blood and torture ( but not that extreme, still acceptable). Sometimes you wonder to what limit will you able to do to avenge for the person you love. Will you cross the line or not? If you are a fan of thriller/crime you will like this movie.

Finally had some time to spare last Saturday evening. Decided to watch Solomon's Perjury which I've downloaded months ago

And so I did. Excellent movie, that's 4.5 hours well spent. The movie is split into Part I (2 hours) and Part II (2.5 hours)

Solomon's Perjury

Solomon's Perjury 1: Suspicion (ソロモンの偽証 前篇・事件/ Solomon no Gisho Zenpen Jiken)
Solomon's Perjury 2: Judgment (ソロモンの偽証 後編・裁判/ Solomon no Gisho Kohen Saiban)





Plot Synopsis by AsianWiki Staff ©

On Christmas morning, Ryoko (Ryoko Fujino) and Kenichi (Koki Maeda) go to school and discover a dead boy covered in snow. The deceased boy is Ryoko's classmate Takuya (Ayumu Mochizuki). The police determine that Takuya committed suicide and his parents agree with the police report. Rumors though quickly spread about Takuya's death. Ryoko and Principle Masao (Fumiyo Kohinata) then receive anonymous notes. The notes claim that the sender witnessed three students, including Shunji (Hiroya Shimizu), throw Takuya off of the rooftop of a school building.

To protect the students, the police and the school hide the anonymous notes, but a reporter receives one of the notes. The situation then becomes uncontrollable. A student dies in a car accident and the other students become increasingly unsettled by the unknown. Ryoko decides to hold a trial by their peers to uncover the truth.

POV: In Part I - you'll witness the beginning of the "tragedy". Part II is where the excitement began - a court trial by the students, for the students. You will see the plot unfolds towards the end.

Typically Japanese film, the pace starts slow and some part of the movie was in fact a little draggy. But as they say, patience bears fruit. I was too absorbed into the film to mind the slow parts. The plot was interesting and you dive into all the characters' emotions and guilt throughout the whole story. Enjoyed the movie thoroughly and looking forward to watch the Korean drama's version.

I recommend this to people who likes mystery

Japanese

ReLife





Plot from Wiki
The story revolves around a 27-year-old man who becomes unemployed after quitting his job of 3-months, claiming that it is because it "does not fit his highest potential". As a result of this action, he finds it difficult to gain a full-time job at another company and instead he works as a part-timer at a mini market. One day, a mysterious man named Ryō Yoake offers him a job opportunity, but first he needs to become a tester for ReLife: a scientific experiment to rejuvenate him by 10 years and send him back to high school as a student. Apparently, the experiment is supposed to provide a chance to experience youth once again and, in the process, fix whatever is wrong with the subject's life.

POV: It's alright. I read the manga, then watched the anime and subsequently the Live Action. No, not a huge fan but I like the story and I'm always curious what happens next, as well as the ending. Although the manga is still ongoing, the Live Action only had 2 hours to tell its tale. I'm satisfied with the casting for the characters and I think the actors did their job well. However I wish there were more depths to characters like Ryo and Oga in the film. Yet with little time, I think this is the best they can do.

Looks good! It's up in the cinema at the moment?
Korean movies are getting better and better

don't be a pirate...yet!I just Google-d, it's currently screening in cinemas so you won't find downloads until much later.