Member Takuma Posted January 16, 2014 Member Share Posted January 16, 2014 Very little info on this so far, but Rina Takeda starring in a Shusuke Kaneko (Death Note, Gamera, Godzilla, Summer Vacation 1999) action film (少女は異世界で戦った) doesn't sound too bad. Let's see how this turns out. (Rather empty) website: http://www.shojo-isekai.com/ A few words at Norman England's blog: http://oavian.blogspot.jp/2013/12/kanekos-new-film-zombie-tv-still.html World premiere in Yubari next month. I'll to find time to catch the film there. Maybe have chance to say Hi to Rina Takeda, too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Takuma Posted March 23, 2014 Author Member Share Posted March 23, 2014 Unfortunately the film isn’t so much to write home about. In the storyline we’ve got a four girl defence team, armed with swords and fists, fighting evil villains from a parallel world. The bad guys are conspiring with politicians to allow firearms and nuclear energy – two things successfully banned in our world. The girls disguise themselves as touring idols and try to find a way to block the portals from which the bad guys enter. The good: quite unexpectedly there’s some hilarious political satire throughout the film, and even criticism on idol culture. The end fight features some catchy parts, including the fun slow motion effect seen in the 70’s and 80’s Sonny Chiba movies, and well, the girls are cute. The film also looks alright, aside cheap special effects, and features no CGI blood – in fact, there is no blood at all despite the sword kills. The bad: the action choreography is ultra-flashy with the girls performing cool poses and moves that serve little logical purpose. Rina Takeda is the only one who convinces as a fighter, though athlete Rumi Hanai does provide some cool (but rather nonsensical) acrobatic moments. Worse yet, talented real martial artists are employed as villains, which makes most of the heroines look less convincing in comparison. The storyline contains tiresome drama about appreciating love, happiness and own identity. The climax is so cliched and illogical that it pretty much hurts brains. Despite the original premise, much of the movie really feels like a combination of bits and pieces from other movies: themes on the soundtrack frequently resemble other movies, the long haired villain seems to have been lifted from Azumi, and so on. The idol act doesn’t quite convince either: the girls’ single song is instantly forgettable, and only the ex-ABK Kayano (super-cute, btw) possesses real idol stage energy… Verdict: plastic idol action film resembles director Kaneko’s earlier film Azumi 2 is a lot of ways. A couple of nice ideas marred with mostly unconvincing action and unengaging drama. Too bad, I would've loved to like this. Stills Pics from Yubari (from the left: Kaneko, Hanai, Takeda, Seino, Kayano, and two whose names I don't remember) Unfortunately my stalking attemps failed and I didn't get a change to talk with Rina despite seeing her three times on stage... had to settle for chatting with Yoshihiro Nishimura, Noboru Iguchi and Hajime Ohata. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Takuma Posted April 10, 2014 Author Member Share Posted April 10, 2014 While Takeda's action career is a bit bumpy, I'm glad her acting career is (getting) far more successful. I watched The Tale of Iya in theater yesterday... and it is utterly fantastic. If you know anything about modern Japanese cinema you should be as puzzled as I am about the combination of a 169 min movie shout by an unknown young director Tetsuichiro Tsuta on 35mm film (even Sion Sono can't afford that) and starring Rina Takeda of all people. Schilling put it perfectly when he described it as "magical realism in the mountains". Haunting, meaningful and breathtakingly beautiful. I never thought Rina Takeda could be this good. Some small flaws, like weaker ending, and lesser acting but a foreign actor, but this something that will stay in your mind for a long time. I didn't think Japanese cinema could still produce something this epic. Wow! Trailer: QOUN8ppT5NY Second trailer: 75Y8fHWx8u0 Site: http://iyamonogatari.jp/contents/renewal-en.htm Reviews: "A work of instant and startling brilliance" - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/10396797/The-Tale-of-Iya-review.html "A film of serene and organic beauty" - http://www.soundonsight.org/gff-2014-the-tale-of-iya-is-a-film-of-serene-and-organic-beauty/ "Magical realism in the mountains" - http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/02/13/films/iya-monogatari-oku-no-hito-the-tale-of-iya/#.U0fnVqKYege "A modern classic of Japanese cinema" - http://www.milngavieherald.co.uk/what-s-on/leisure/move-review-the-tale-of-iya-1-3365553 "The (Very Long) Tale of Iya" - http://twitchfilm.com/2013/10/tokyo-2013-review-the-very-long-tale-of-aya.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator KUNG FU BOB Posted April 18, 2014 Administrator Share Posted April 18, 2014 The end fight features some catchy parts, including the fun slow motion effect seen in the 70’s and 80’s Sonny Chiba movies, and well, the girls are cute. Too bad, I would've loved to like this. Awwwww... Me too. Schilling put it perfectly when he described it as "magical realism in the mountains". Haunting, meaningful and breathtakingly beautiful. I never thought Rina Takeda could be this good. Some small flaws, like weaker ending, and lesser acting but a foreign actor, but this something that will stay in your mind for a long time. I didn't think Japanese cinema could still produce something this epic. Wow! Thanks for putting this one on my radar! Sounds intriguing. Even though I'd love to see Rina kicking ass, I find her to be an interesting enough performer that I'd happily give this a watch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Takuma Posted May 19, 2014 Author Member Share Posted May 19, 2014 The film's been given a pretty horrible English title Danger Dolls. It's also been given an even more horrible English language teaser: 89j3ei6vr4s The film is bad, but the trailer makes it look even worse. Wow. Oddly they've compiled pretty much all the worst CGI bits into it, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Doctor Schnabel von Rom Posted July 16, 2014 Member Share Posted July 16, 2014 Watched a part of the movie (the first 30-40 minutes i guess) last week at the nifff (neuchatel international fantasy film fest) and i was real disappointed! it was one of the weakest movies of the filmfest! very very cheap and borning, so i leaved the presentation a pity, when you look what movies the director realized in the past (azumi part two, h.p. lovecrafts necronomicon...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Takuma Posted September 27, 2014 Author Member Share Posted September 27, 2014 Seems to have come out on R1 DVD. Although Amazon only states English, it should have the original Japanese track too (checked another site). That wouldn't make the film any more watchable, though. It's odd how Nana Seino, who was utterly forgettable in this one, was really good in Tokyo Tribe. In Danger Dolls Takeda stood up in the action scenes, but wasn't so good at idolling. Kayano stood up in the idol scenes, but wasn't much of a fighter. Hanai mostly stood up in a negative way with some cringeworthy drama. Seino was the one who didn't really stand up in any way, yet she's great in Tokyo Tribe! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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