2012 Eiga Sai

*yey* Just got the update. How time flies~ and it's time for another Eiga Sai!

For those not familiar with Eiga Sai, it's an annual film festival organized by Japan Foundation Manila. This year they will be showing 10 films for free at Shang Cineplex Cinema 4 (July 5 to 15), Gaisano South Citimall, Davao City (July 20 to 22), Ayala Center Cinema 4, Cebu City (August 7 to 12) and UP Film Institute, Quezon City (August 15 to 21).

All movies have English subtitles.

You can see a detailed screening schedule on JFM website. Check it check it!

I thought I was going to sit through another set of film I didn't like. I gave up halfway last year (although that's also because I hated the long commute towards the venue).

Would you know, next thing I see Oguri Shun's movie "Peak - The Rescuers" included this year. I have been waiting to see this movie since I saw the trailer. I love Oguri Shun's works!

Peak - The Rescuers / 2011
Cast: Shun Oguri, Masami Nagasawa, Kuranosuke Sasaki

Based on the popular comics by Shinichi Ishizuka, this drama spotlight is on mountain rescue operations. Oguri was a big fan of the original story, and he attempts ice wall climbing and rappelling in snow-covered mountains. His genuine performance gets across the severity and wonder of the mountains. Sanpo (Oguri), who volunteers as a mountain rescuer in the Northern Alps, has climbed the world's famous peaks. His flaw is that he can be too easygoing, but, novice Kumi (Masami Nagasawa) from the Nagano Prefecture mountain rescue squad observes the way he works and learns that he is someone she can count on.

And Yamapi as Ashita no Joe?! This is news to me~ Clearly I need to read more on J-news.

Tomorrow's Joe / 2011
Cast: Tomohisa Yamashita, Yusuke Iseya, Karina Shiraki, Teruyuki Kagawa

A live-action adaptation of Takamori Asao and Chiba Tetsuya's eponymous epic comic, regarded as a brilliant achievement in Japanese manga history. Two boxing rivals engage in a fierce battle that will determine of their fate. The director is Fumihiko Sori, who helmed the sports manga adaptation Ping Pong. In the late 1960s, a slum-dwelling delinquent named Joe Yabuki (Yamapi) is scouted by former boxer Danpei Tange (Teruyuki Kagawa) for his exceptional pugilistic ability, but he gets into trouble and is sent to a juvenile reformatory where he meets professional fighter Toru Rikiishi (Yusuke Iseya).

There's also Happy Flight, a 2008 film I have been passing off because there are a lot more interesting movies in my watch list (^-^;")ゞ but that's not to say this movie isn't good at all. I probably have just seen too many aviation drama/films to last me a lifetime. This is a feel good / comedy movie.

Happy Flight / 2008
Cast: Seiichi Tanabe, Saburo Tokito, Haruka Ayase

The Story deals with flight No.1980 bound for Honolulu from Japan. For Kazuhiro Suzuki (Seiichi Tanabe), the co-pilot, this is the final test to become a captain. For Etsuko Saito (Haruka Ayase), a newly recruited cabin attendant, it is a memorable debut on an international flight. However, the aircraft hits a bird after takeoff and is forced to turn back. Faced with yet another challenge -  difficult landing conditions due to an approaching typhoon; finally, they managed to overcome with the help of the operation control center. The young crew in aviation-related occupations grew in experience after this bittersweet but fulfilling flight.

I'm not a devout fan of Arashi, I'm only ever interested in Matsujun, so even if I saw this on the news I probably wouldn't have registered it. /hides from Arashi friends ( ﾟ 3ﾟ)~♪. From seeing the trailer, I'm loving the tone & look of the film. It's the kind of cinematography I love so much in Japanese films.

In His Chart (Kamisama no Karute) / 2011
Cast: Sho Sakurai, Aoi Miyazaki, Jun Kaname

Medical drama based on the debut novel by practicing physician Sosuke Natsukawa. It is a penetrating look at healthcare in Japan's provinces through the personal growth of an honest young doctor. It is acclaimed as the film soundtrack debut for the blind pianist Noboyuki Tsujii. Ichito (Sho Sakurai) is an internist at a small hospital in Shinshu that needs physicians, and handles his heavy workload with support from his photographer wife Haruna (Aoi Miyazaki). One day he encounters Azumi (Mariko Kaga), who has terminal cancer, and he starts questioning the very existence of medicine.

Another film animation. I don't think I've ever seen one that does not take my breath away. Though I was hoping they would feature another Makoto Shinkai movie. I love his works. Maybe I'll just blog about those here when I find the time.

Colorful / 2011
Voice: Kazato Tomizawa, Aoi Miyazaki, Akina Minami

Directed by Keiichi Hara, highly regarded for Crayon Shin-chan Arashi o Yobu Moretsu Otona Teikoku no Gyakushu. His realistic style as seen in Summer Days with Coo (Kappa no Coo to Natsuyasumi) is taken one step further, and creates a unique world where the backdrop is real you would think it might have been shot live.

Someone has just died, but his soul is put into the body of Makoto Kobayashi (voice: Kazato Tomizawa), a boy in junior high school who has just committed suicide. Regaining life, the soul inhabits the boy's body and soon finds the true reason behind his suicide.

Whenever I try to watch Japanese historical movies, I can't help but feel impatient. I know they're supposed to reflect what it was like in those times but they tend to be really gloomy & slow! And I'm used to gloomy & slow movies Maybe they're just not for me. ヾ(￣—￣)ﾉ◇

Abacus and Sword / 2010
Cast: Masato Sakai, Yukie Nakama, Keiko Matsuzaka

A film adaptation of the book by Michifumi Isoda, in which he paints a picture of life in the final days of the Tokugawa shogunate, based on his painstaking analysis of the household accounts left behind by a low ranking samurai. Director Yoshimitsu Morita, portrays the inner workings of a samurai household fighting to tighten finances. The Inoyama family has been in the service of Kaga clan as expert accountants and reckoners. The 8th head of the Inoyama family, Naoyuki (Masato Sakai), is so phenomenally gifted in numbers that he was called "abacus maniac". To cope with the increasing expenses that come with trying to move up, he works together with his wife Koma (Yukie Nakama) and family to do all they can to economize.

This one looks interesting. Cute kids in ninja suits, weird costumes and a very obvious artificial world. This will be fun to watch.

Ninja Kids / 2011
Cast: Seishiro Kato, Roi Hayashi, Futa Kimura

A live-action adaptation of Soubei Amako's cute ninja action manga. A popular animated television series, it presents the comical slapstick antics of a group of boys training to be elite ninjas. Director Takashi Miike works in a diverse array of genres, from violent works to family films. Rantaro (Seishiro Kato), a first grader at Ninja Academy, spends his days with his fellow students Shinbee (Futa Kimura) and Kirimaru (Roi Hayashi) making all sorts of blunders. One day, an assassin turns up at the home of fourth grader Takamaru (Takuya Mizoguchi).

Wow this post is already this long??!
I'm just going to leave you some links for the other films ok?
I'm not so thrilled about these three...sorry (¬‿¬)

Villain / trailer /
Railways / can't find any trailer
Permanent Kobara / can't find any trailer


What do you think of the movies featured this year?
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