Category: Screenings

Special Screening: Death Note the Last Name, aka The True Ending

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With the love-love that is nigh palpable from Narutaki, there was no way were going to miss the big screen showing of the second Death Note movie. Instead of going to the theater in Union Square we went to Clearview’s Chelsea which was significantly less crowded. If they continue to get anime movies at that theater, I think I will go there from now on. It was a nice place and they had an awesome waffle shop across the street. I myself had some good chai bubble tea. There was a closed shop called Burgers and Cupcakes which I am sure could have been saved by Narutaki if only he knew of its existence before.

Wow, what a big difference between two theaters that are just a few blocks from each other. Our experience at Union Square, while not sold out, was still packed and we were stuck with crummy seats. This was a whole other story, sadly there were only about 10 to 15 people besides us at the screening. However, compared to the number of people in total at this theater that night, that doesn’t seem like bad numbers. The theater was really nice and clean, I will definitely be picking this place over Union Square.

The first Death Note movie ended with L and Light meeting face to face for the first time. The second movie then takes the remaining books and and combines them into 1 movie. This means a whole bunch of extraneous characters, plot lines, and one very controversial plot point got the ax. We get a greater disparity between the movies and the manga than the first movie. I know this leads to some rather strong opinions towards either the manga or the movies.

While the first movie was different from the manga, it still kept some of the major plot lines and interwove them just a bit differently. The second movie starts pushing it in a very different direction. Where the manga stumbles through some of its shifting plot, the movie removes altogether. Afterall, there is only this one movie to wrap up the story so inevitably a lot of things will go missing. To create a solid ending for a series like this in just 2 hours was a challenge that was handled really well.

The movie begins with Misa Misa gaining her own Death Note and becoming the second Kira. L tries to prove that Light is in fact Kira while also trying to catch the second Kira. Light is as always trying to kill L and mold the world to his vision. The plot then follows the manga in a condensed manner up until the Yotsuba Arc. We get a thankfully short version of the arc and deals with one other new Kira. Of course, no Death Note adaptation would be complete without the most infamous line in the series, “exactly as planned.”

The cast carries over from the first film and that is much to its credit. These actors, especially Kenichi Matsuyama, really brought great things to these characters in the first film and continue at the same pace here. You read an in-depth view in our review of the first movie. But we have a few new additions to discuss, namely Misa Amane, Rem, and Kiyomi Takada. Misa starts off our tale and follows rather closesly to her path. Light proves how easily he can manipulate women though never to the misogynistic extent of the manga. Kiyomi is sort of a mish-mash of characters from the manga. She helps exhibit that desire for power present in Light but not seen in Misa. I thought she did an excellent job portraying how easily one can fall into it. The character also solidified my feelings that Light, while a genius, doesn’t have ideals that are new or even unique.

The original Kiyomi Takada from the manga was Light’s girlfriend in college that eventually becomes Kira’s mouth piece as a news announcer. In the movie she is an aspiring news anchor who is a closet Kira supporter. She eventually becomes more involved with the Death Note due to Light’s schemes. Kiyomi Takada works fine in her role. I can’t say that she was extraordinarily gripping but I don’t think she was supposed to be. She is supposed to be a person who feels she has grand designs but really just has very petty schemes especially compared to the machinations of Light and L. Misa Misa is now is now fully integrated into the movie so her full force of annoying is apparent but thankfully has a shortened appearance. Less Misa Misa is always better. Rem is generally the same as she was in the manga but they never make note that Rem is in fact female.

The dub as per the first film makes people giggle at inopportune times. Though Ryuk didn’t seem nearly as out of control. Once again we talked a bit about this in the first film review. Everyone basically stays on target. Though I always miss not hearing Kenichi’s voice just because I like him so much.

I don’t really think about dubs anymore being a subtitle person. I don’t hate them but I just don’t think I pay attention. Therefore someone has to stand out as being really good or really bad for me to notice. The Death Note dub did not have anyone standing out for better or worse. I, like Narutaki, did notice that people were sometimes laughing at the wrong times but it was not anything that negatively effected my viewing experience. Then again I wonder if I really notice anyone being anything other than extraordinary for better or worse in Japanese.

Well, thank goodness someone realized how crappy the extras for the first movie were. They certainly stepped it up a notch with this release and had the actors talking about their roles and working together. It also had some fun scenes of each one performing their final lines for the film and then being given flowers!

I also think the directors insights into the movie were a little more interesting because he was doing more than simply adapting the manga. He was making it his own. It was interesting to see what all the principal actors thought of their roles.

A lot of things about this shorter version appealed to me. Biggest of which was the intensity, the manga became so enormous that it couldn’t hold on to that edge. It started to become too sensational, but with the movie you stayed glued exactly as long as a person can. L also always stays a focus, as he should. He is the perfect foil to Kira and the only one suitable for this life or death game with Light. Plus, strangely, I don’t have enough time to hate Misa in the movie because she is never there for any exorbitant amount of time bumbling things. And if you couldn’t guess it has the ending as I always wanted it.

The Death Note movies are the definitive version of Death Note for me. The second movie takes the best of the middle and end of the manga and condenses it into a climatic ending. The director has the ability to use 20/20 hindsight and take the best while tossing away the chaff.  I felt the manga went on for far too long due to its popularity and lost much of its focus in the middle.  The movies also have the ending that I feel a majority of fans wanted from the start. I know it has the ending I much prefer. You could say they basically ended up in the same place but I feel both conclusions leave a different taste in your mouth.

Top 5 L quirks
5. No shoes
4. Great tennis player
3. How he holds a phone
2. Making pastry shish-kebabs
1. Crouched sitting position

Sword of the Stranger, Why’d you have to go and make things so complicated?

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This was our second experience at the Imaginasian theater and it continues to be a nice, quite place to see a film (though it was about 40 below in the theater). My only issue was the film was dubbed, I was quite surprised. I figured a place that specializes in foreign film would show it in its original language. When I asked about it they said they have no control since it is just what the company gives them. Bandai! In the Anime News Network coverage it said it would be shown in Japanese.

I think it all revolves around the fact that anime companies are convinced that the majority of people want dubs over subs. That is a mantra you here all the time. So they release movies in theaters with dubs because they assume they will get more people in the theater. That might make more sense if this had a large number of theaters it was playing in. But as it stands Sword of the Stranger is only playing in a few select theaters across the nation. At that point you’re only going to get less casual anime fans (more otaku) and art house movie goers, both of which tend to prefer subs. I understand their position but I too would have preferred watching the Japanese version.

The movie begins when Kotaro and his faithful dog Tobimaru are on the run from warriors from China. The monk Kotaro has been staying with tells him to run to the main temple in the area where he will be safe. While trying to get to the main temple Kotaru takes refuge in an abandoned shrine and meets a nameless swordsman. Soon warriors come to take Kotaro away and the nameless swordsman defends the boy but Tobimaru is poisoned in the fight saving the swordsman. Kotaru then hires No Name to save his dog and escort him to the temple. No Name reluctantly agrees but must wonder why such powerful warriors are attempting to kidnap such an ordinary child.

Sword of the Stranger presents a simple tale of a man who did something terrible in his past and lost his warrior spirit. Through the events he becomes entrenched in he regains his desire to fight.

Atleast it would be simple but the director, Masahiro Ando, insists on throwing in dozen of side characters and secondary plots. The are over half a dozen Chinese warriors who have their own little stories. There is local lord and his servants who are working with the Chinese while plotting against them. There is also several sub plots that are only tangentially related to our main character’s story.

Don’t forget the drug plot! Oh and they guy who wants to marry the Princess. Along with the man that sort of knew No Name in the past.

I admire the director’s ambition but if this were a series of OAVs or as TV show I would understand the need to throw in so many different plot threads. But it is a movie so he would have done better to simplify some of the plots or reduce the number of changes to make things run a little smoother. I realize he wanted more fleshed out characters and themes but this movie did not need them. All it needed was a simple plot to attach us to Kotaru and No Name and more quality with less villains.

It is true it might have served better is some longer format, but I still saw what was important coming through to the surface. The characters that were supposed to stick out did and the fights were great. And while the plot does have a too many threads, it isn’t done poorly and it isn’t confusing. The film sets the tone and pace with the fight in the rain kicking it off then gradually building up to the final confrontation.

Indeed the director has the good sense to make sure we never got too bogged down in the byzantine plot. We spend a good deal of time watching Kotaru and No Name bonding. We also learn quite a bit about all the people scheming to get Kotaru and scheming against each other. In between all these scenes are some awesome battles. Anytime things get close to getting slow someone will challenge No Name or the Chinese warriors will get into a fight. This is an action movie and it know you came for the fights so they deliver.

No Name (Nanashi) is a totally sweet combination of Kenshin (from Ruroni Kenshin) and Jubei Kibagami (from Ninja Scroll). His refusal to draw his blade doesn’t keep him from beating the tar out of everyone that tries to attack him. His past haunts him and though he claims to be helping the Kotaru and his dog for payment he grows to genuinely care for both of them.

Unlike Kenshin, No Name seems to have made no such vow as not to kill. He quite impressively proves that a sword can still be an effective killing weapon even if you never unsheathe it in the first fight. He is a laid back fellow with many secret although one of his secrets was rather odd and I’m not sure why it even existed in the first place.

Kotaru is your stereotypical anime brat. An inexperienced angry little know it all punk in the beginning he definitely grows into being a much more likable character as the movie goes on. I liked the scenes where No Name teaches Kotaru to ride a horse. They let you bond with the characters as they bonded with each other. Tobimaru is an awesome dog though out the movie and one of the most likable characters. I am sure Narutaki wishes he had a Tobimaru.

We get a wide variety of villains, some with a little gimmick and some who are just damn good with a sword. Like the whip guy who was the first to show up was out of control. But then our major baddie, Rarou, is just looking to slice and dice in a new country. He establishes himself as a force to be reckoned with when he kills an entire group of bandits in the opening. His only real motivation is to pick a good fight, well he certainly picks a good one when he runs into No Name.

Rarou is an evil (more evil?) Kenpachi from Bleach. He is always fighting in hope of finally finding someone who can give him a run for his money. In fact he is only with the Chinese because he knows they are were the action will probably be. The Chinese bad guys were without a doubt cooler than the Japanese ones. They mostly exists to get their bums handed to them by cooler fighters.

The battles were beautiful, fluid, and bloody! Heads rolling, limbs flying! The movement was smooth and they always kept you right in the action. I just keep thinking of the fight that starts on some stairs. It was only a moment but it was so cool! Also liked how the terrain was coming into play for some of these fights, just kept it interesting. They were everything I was hoping for.

The fight choreography was well done and beautifully animated as only a movie could be. I liked the fact that most people had their own unique but interesting fighting style. There are even good deal of horse mounted fighting which in not something you commonly see in anime. The end battle is quite the bloodbath which is a fitting climax for the movie. It is quite a nice series of battles even if Narutaki thought that the music was too epic for the actions taking place. I would definitely see other action anime by Masahiro Ando again.

As much as I complained about the plot I could see this being a break out hit in America. It is a one shot movie with a good amount of violence which is usually popular among casual anime consumers. In fact, the plot complications might give it a boost among the casual anime fans. Most of the plot additives where added to give a sense of depth and philosophy to an otherwise standard story.

My initial interest in this movie stemmed from a need to see some really well done and totally cool fight scenes. Everything else that might have happened was just gravy so on that note I was totally satisfied. Sword of the Stranger doesn’t do anything new, doesn’t have an incredible plot, but it has a serviceable story with totally amazing battles and great animation to boot. I will be happy to own this movie.

Top 5 Favorite Swordsmen
5. Guts (Berserk)
4. Magatsu (Blade of the Immortal)
3. Kenshin (Rurouni Kenshin)
2. Zoro (One Piece)
1. Manji (Blade of the Immortal)

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Special Screening: Paprika w/ Satoshi Kon, Get out of my dreams, get into my car.

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Well, this little shindig was rather spontaneous, we only got the notice that we got the tickets the morning of the event! It would have been quite easy to miss it. But somehow the anime gods smiled down!

I don’t always check my email in the morning and I can’t check my personal email at work so it was luck that I got to go and was able to let Narutaki know. There were enough people who tried to get tickets that a lottery had to be held so the fact that we got tickets is a little bit of luck in itself. There were quite a few people hoping to get unclaimed seats when I entered the theater so I guess we should be thankful. I guess the anime gods decided that a Satoshi Kon review was in order.

I had never been to the Imaginasian Theater, though I had always wanted to go. The building definitely seemed old and I think there is just the one theater we were in if I’m not mistaken. But it is nice to have someplace, anyplace, dedicated to showing Asian films. The line outside was rather disorganized and quite a few people were complaining about the lack preparation. However, we got in fine, saw some familiar faces, and had perfectly good seats. This event was sponsored by All Nippon Airways and we got free popcorn!

It was a nice enough theater. Nothing stood out as amazing but nothing was horrible about it. I would definitely go see another movie there, especially since they cater to such a interesting niche. I hope we can go back and catch Sword of the Stranger. That looks like it could be good. I love almost anything that is free and free popcorn is especially good. So thank you ANA. Of course since I am immature all I could think of was one thing. An their logo does not help one bit. Does this mean I am on the path to becoming a fujoshi. I hope not.

Yes, actually it does mean that. And we are so going to see Sword of the Stranger, I have been hyping that movie in my mind for almost a year. Satoshi Kon spoke briefly before the film and answered a few questions. I was really enjoying his thoughts on dreams. He was mentioning how he felt it was painful to hear other peoples’ dreams because it is almost impossible to understand them. Dreams are so personal that they mean very little to anyone else. So he really focuses on the visual aspects of dreams.

I oddly enough like to hear about other peoples’ dreams. Dreams can be rather abstract therefore it’s sometimes hard do dig out an insight from them but they tend to be a rather unguarded part of people minds that they share despite this fact. I will agree that dreams can be very personal and therefore will not mean as much to another person, but there are some commonalities in dreams as well. How many people have had the dream where they arrive at a test they are totally unprepared for? Or are running from something they can’t see but they know is horrible? Some dreams are just for you and others are universal.

You are right about some common things that everyone dreams about. However, I think interpreting a dream is all over the place. You mentioned some basic ones that generally everyone sees in the same way, but every culture has different ways of interpreting things in dreams so I think this is where it can become very personal. Someone also asked how he balances the need for commercial success and his own artistic merit. He made some amusing comments about he isn’t actually commercially successful quite yet because he has odd taste. He then spoke about pleasing his fans and continuing to do that while pushing his work into the commercial light. I don’t know if his films will ever reach the height of Ghibli but I do think his audience grows more and more with each one released. He is also very well known in film and artistic communities so his continued success seems eminent.

I can’t see his movies getting to the universal acceptance of a Studio Ghibli movie unless he changes his directorial style and I get the impression that he does not want that. He makes artistic movies that appeal to people who watch artistic movies. Studio Ghibli makes artistic films that appeal to families so they getting more box office. I think if he wanted to make movies with a more universal appeal he could but he chooses to satisfy himself and his fan-base by staying with his own personal approach to movies.

You absolutely on the mark there, but I think he will still grow to be a very well-known director and become much more successful before he is through. Not everyone will know him, not everyone will like his style, but he will be adored by those that do.

Paprika is about a research team that develops a machine called the DC Mini, it lets you enter someone’s dreams and interact with them. The device was meant to be used as a psychotherapy tool to help people by examining their dreams. Before the device’s security features can be fully implemented, an unknown party steals the device and starts to use it to control and terrorize people. A dream terrorist. So it’s up to the research team to find out who stole the DC Mini before he can reek havoc on the minds of the research team as well as everyone else in town.

I had started watching Paprika a couple of weeks ago but only finished about one-third. This was not because I wasn’t interested in what was going on but just a timing issue. So it was fun going into this not knowing everything that was going to happen on the screen. And is quite an expected ride. What caught me originally and seeing it on the big screen even more so is the opening credits. I love the movement, the music, and the playfulness. In fact, this film really combines suspense and humor in just the right amounts.

This was my second time seeing the film so I got to go back and see what things were hinted at in the beginning that seemed insignificant the first time through. It’s not exactly like Fight Club or The Sixth Sense where there is some major twist to go back and reflect upon, but the movie is complex enough that a second viewing will show you some additional layers. It’s also worth a second viewing if for nothing else the lush visuals. The dreamscapes are beautifully animated and strikingly colored so they are extremely pleasing to eye. The characters are well developed in the short amount of time they are on the screen and are generally realistic people.

Paprika is a “dream movie star.” She appears in your dreams and helps you through them, to understand them, and to ultimately win against them. She is all things and anything in the dream world but most often appears as young woman. She is like the link between reality and imagination but you are never quite sure if she exists in one or the other or both.

Paprika and Atsuko Chiba are definitely Satoshi Kon characters. They seem to be part of the same spiritual family as Chiyoko Fujiwara (Millennium Actress) and Mima Kirigoe (Perfect Blue). All of them are women with a links to a blurry line between their dreams and their realities. Paprika is the women of your dreams. I would go as far as to say that she is more a piece of the dreams of everyone she interacts with rather than the avatar of one person. This is despite what she was originally meant to be. I think Paprika is always supposed to be a creature of dreams but the real question is how real does that make her.

And that really ties into the theme of the movie. Satoshi Kon’s whole thesis (to me) in his films is about what makes reality real and where do dreams end and how the two effect each other. It really came across in the dialogue when Paprika’s counterpart questions her with, “Why don’t you listen? You are a part of me!” to which Paprika replies, “Have you ever thought that maybe you are a part of me?” So the line is blurred and as the viewer you certainly have your opinion on what is real in the film, you also realize that one couldn’t exist without the other.

I feel his movies can also be about the danger of falling too far into your dreams to the point where you damage your real life. If you ignore either part of your existance the other part is damaged and in the end you become damaged as well. Both parts are integral to your life but it’s important to keep them separate and balanced. All the characters except Paprika in the movie ignore or overindulge some aspect of their existance and suffer for it.

To round out this discussion I thought it apt to mention Paprika’s comparison of dreams to the Internet. I found it very poignant. Where else can you pretend you are someone else when awake? I think it is just another example of how dreams cross over into the world of reality. How far the Internet has come from merely being an information source.

There is a character who often interacts with his dream by going online. He receives therapy and interacts with the others characters in the dream world while using the Internet. In a way the Internet is filled with mundaneness, fantasy, hope, joy, madness, and nightmares just like dreams. The Internet is, as always, also where people can run away from their reality.

I loved this movie. It is my favorite Satoshi Kon film. It is funny because I saw Perfect Blue when it first came out in English and it almost ruined Kon for me. Not that it was a bad film, on the contrary, I thought it was very good. But that movie scared me and I don’t like to be scared in a psychological manner. It stuck with me and made me almost never watch another of his films again. I am sure glad I got over it.

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