Blood Rain takes place during the Chosun Dynasty(1392-1910). The place is a paper mill on an island. The mill produces paper for tribute once a year and when one of the boats catches on fire and a grisly murder takes place, a magistrate boats in to solve the mystery. When two more people turn up dead, and the investigation goes deeper, the island begins to give up it's secret.

This is a very serious movie. The only line I laughed quietly to myself over was "Is there anyone named Park here?" After Kim and Lee, I think Park is one of the most common Korean surnames. The murders are gruesome. The costumes are wonderful and the scenary very beautifully photographed. There are flashes into the past, glimpses of a love, hints of the supernatural and a deep vein of revenge.

This was my last movie and the last day for the Hawaii International Film Festival. I didn't get to see Sad Movie (Korean), Cavite (Filipino) or American Fusion. Those were some very popular ones.

I rate Blood Rain, 3/5 acorns.

Mirrormask, Review

Mirrormask is treasury of all kinds of cinematic magic. There are Jim Hensen creatures, circus performers, fantasy, animations and terrific live action characters. The story is deep and complex. The music is interesting. And it has a happy ending. Oops, there I told.

The mistake I made was to take my blankie with me and go to another evening show. I was nodding off before I left home, and I had some blank moments during the show where I entered a different level of consciousness. It might not be a good idea to rate this one, but I know its at least 3.5/5 acorns. The anouncer said it's the kind of movie one has to see on a big screen, but I think I will get more out of it watching the DVD at home.

Ashura, Review

I missed this movie Tuesday as I couldn't stay up until 10:15 pm to see it. How lame. But since I was able to leave work on time I decided to chance it. Rie Miyazawa, a very sweet actress, plays Tsubaki. I read a little about her and she has had some rocky times. She was so wonderful in Twilight Samurai. I remember Ashura as being the little girl from one of my first and favorite anime, RgVeda, so I was thinking somehow this character might be connected. Well, she isn't. Izumo, most excellent demon hunter quits and becomes a Kabuki actor after being haunted by killing a child in one of the demon-killing frenzies. A chance meeting with the Camelia (Tsubaki), hiding under the bridge leads him back to his old life. She has amnesia, but he feels he knows her. His old friend, Jaku, is tempted by Bizan, a "lecherous nun" and tricked into luring his friend back into the life. Jaku wants to find Ashura, who is going to be reborn, unite with her and doing so become strong even though it means he will become a demon. Of course you know right off the bat he will have to fight Izumo,
I liked the soundtrack to this movie. The battle scenes, special effects and artwork were really great. The story was a bit overdone in places but made sense and came to a satsifying end. Ashura's castle which is supposed to come down from the sky upside down, is quite fantastic. There is a lot of that inappropriate laughter so common in Japanese movies.
I enjoyed this picture and will give it 3.5/5 acorns.

Armageddon Review

This is the Chinese movie called Armageddon, not to be mixed up with the Bruce Willis/Ben Affleck one. It stars Andy Lau as one of the foremost inventors in the world. Or is it scientist. It's a bit confusing. I decided to watch this one with English audio as both the Cantonese and the Mandarin tracks sounded as if they were dubbed. The video transfer was not very good.
Being on the list of best scientists is a bad thing, as some of them have been murdered. A team on secret agents come to protect him, but he wants his old elementary school classmate to do it even though he appears to be inept.
The movie is a bit ho hum in the beginning even though the scientists appear to be dying of spontaneous combustion. I don't know about you, but that always is a show stopper.
Somehow the murders coincide with Armageddon as do world events and Andy just happens to figure it out. Scientists, you know, have a duty to take care of all people of the world. What a burden! Andy is drawn in to figuring out the plot of this movie by the ghost of his dead girlfriend who keeps showing up. Can Andy keep himself and his friends from self ignition?
I bet everyone will want to know, so I wont'd give it away.
I rate this one 2/5 acorns. My two sons only gave it 1.

Naisu no mori: First Contact, Review

Naisu no mori: First Contact is directed by Ishii Katsuhito. I adored Taste of Tea last year from the HIFF, not only because it starred Asano Tadanobu, but because I found it truly entertaining. I didn't want to miss this one from the same director and also starring Asano. They have collaborated also on Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl,

Many of the actors from Taste of Tea were also in this collection of vignettes of bizarre creatures and serious misfits. It simple amazes me how anyone in this movie kept a straight face long enough to make it through to the end.

There were a bunch of squishy creatures ala Existenz, and a club of men who just can't meet girls. The director takes us into some very strange dreams. Really this movie is very hard to explain.

I will give in 4/5 acorns. It is definately not everyone's cup of tea, but I would see it again.

No Blade of Grass Review

This s a made in Britain movie from 1970 about a time when polution has just about ruined the world and people are banding together against the anarchy that follows. It takes place in Britain and the scenary is great. The acting corny as it usually is in these B moves and the lyrics and lines are quite rediculous at times. One example is in London in a club where food is laid out in lavish supple while pictures of famine around the world is on the TV/ The men are discussing the likelyhood of London falling and one says, "It will be worse here...over there they are used to famine." What the heck does that mean? Can people actually get used to famine? At the end it says some like, "This is not a documetary, but it's real." I hope I heard that wrong, cuz that doesn't make sense.

So anyway, if this movie comes on at midnight some night when you can't sleep, it's better then watching the color bands, but I'll only give it 2/5 acorns, and I think that is being generous.

Tomorrow is Another Day

Fooey. I feel like life is getting ahead of me! My second sock is not growing very fast, I only folded half the clothes out of the drier, and poor Tweedy has been eating Cockatiel food for 2 days! It didn't help that I had to work today. I decided not to see Ashura, tonight at 10:15pm. What was I thinking? It's dark and rainy outside, and no doubt I would fall asleep in the middle of the movie.

Work was like a surreal vignette today. Thank goodness it was only medium busy since IT picked my shift to swap out all the computers as the company is rolling out the new W2K systems. The corrider was full of tall, thin dudes who mumbled somewhat incoherantly and floated about, logging me out and leaving me with new icons and no instructions. After realizing, there was no "yellow sheet", they decided to stop referring me to it. I got my cardio wandering out trying to find out where all my stuff was printing out to. It was a relief when it was over. I just pray they swap out the systems at my clinic after hours instead of during work.

The high point of the day was getting on the scale and finding out the hershey bar (okay, bars) didn't do too much damage. Also, there was a very lovely rainbow on the way to work and I heard from a few people who it was a nice surprise to hear from.

Godzilla Final Wars Review

Godzilla Final Wars is reportedly the last of the Godzilla movies. A group of mutant earthmen have joined forces to protect the world against monsters. An alien force collects the monsters that have started attacking around the globe. The alien force, mutants and most of the monsters have genetic similarities, so the alien force is able to control them. The aliens plan to use humans as food.

The monsters are great. The twin fairies of Mothra show up. Cities are destroyed left and right. Ryuhei Kitamura, director of Versus, also directed this one and gives it a much more frenetic, driving pace. Kazuki Kitamura is great as the bad guy with his heavy brows and he throws great tantrums.

I don't remember seeing any blood in this movie. I can't remember any deep quotes. I did laugh, though and I didn't fall asleep even though it was pretty late.

I'll give it 3.5/5 acorns. It was a lot of fun.

Hinokio Review

Hinokio is a sweet movie about a boy who shuts himself in and away from people, including his dad. The film starts with Satoru and his fatally injured mother in the emergency room. He observes the code and his mother's death. He blames his father. Although the doctors say Satoru can get better and walk, he remains wheelchair bound, and refuses to leave the house.
His father is designing the 603, a robot, that can be powered like a video game. The robot goes to school for Satoru and allows him to experience friendship and later actual physical sensations.
Juxtuposed with this story is a computer game called Purgatory.
The movie as some cute and sad moments. It moves a bit slowly at times.
I enjoyed it and will give it 4/5 acorns.

PS: Hinoki is a pine tree. 603 has some parts of him made of Hinoki so he will be lighter, and the kids at school nickname him Hinokio after the famous puppet.

Friday Haiku

Everyday unique
Mountain, sea and sky shout it.
Celebrate today!

Hawaii Internation Film Festival

The 26th Hawaii International Film Festival starts today. I will have to miss Sunday because of work, but plan to go to at least 6 films. There are so many great choices it's hard to narrow it down. I hope I can stay awake for the 10:15pm one on Sunday!

Dark City, one of my all time favs is showing and there is a discussion after. I'm a bit torn, but will miss it.

Kung Fu Mahjong Review

Some of the goofy characters from Kung Fu Hustle come back in this movie but it wasn't quite as good as Hustle, imo. It was still fun and silly. Our naive young hero is discovered waiting tables and he has a perfect memory. His employer warns of the dangers of becoming a gambler, but he falls in love and wants to make money so he can ask for her hand in marriage. I can't tell you more then that as it will spoil the surprise. Anyway, he loses his memory for a while and has to make a comeback.

His restaurant boss is that funny character with the cigarette hanging out of her mouth from Hustle.

I will give this movie 3/5 acorns. I can't think of anything deep I got watching it, though.

The Wig Review

This is a Korean horror movie that follows in the vein of Hands of a Stranger, and The Eye. You guessed it a women who has lost her hair due to chemotherapy takes on the personna of the wig she is given by her sister. Creepy accidents occur involving the long, drippy black hair I have come to love since Juon came to America. The hair even walks up a flight of stairs! The good sister loses her voice and goes about whispering. The bad sister also competes for the good sister's boyfriend. There is a surprising twist at the end, but all in all it wasn't a very scary, original movie. It was a little gruesome in parts.

I will rate it 2/5 acorns. Good midnight movie fare.

Heaven's Soldiers Review

Heaven's Soldiers is a Korean movie that combines historical drama, science fiction, and comedy all in one.
The historical figure is Yi Sun Shin who was a Korean admiral who in 1597 was killed in a naval victory in which the Japanese armada was defeated against great odss. He also introduced the the Turtle Ship
The scifi involves time travel and a comet.
The comedy is just thrown in and I did laugh.
The battle scenes are fairly graphic and well done.

I will give this movie 4/5 acorns. I found it very entertaining.

Zatoichi 26 review

I don't profess to have seen the preceding 25 of this series, but I have seen quite a few of them. Shintaro Katsu is greying but still has his funny walk, his swift sword and is still massaging and hacking his way through corrupt officials and yakuza slime. The ladies pure and jaded fall for him and he defends orphans and innocent young girls.

He has one last confrontation at the end with a samurai who might be his match but who also has become a friend. Their relationship is summarized by the saying "the falling leaf does not hate the wind" and "the one who drew first was you."

Some noteworthy faces include Takanori Jinnai and Ogata Ken. I could swear that is Beat Takeshi in there, too, but I don't see his name in the credits, so I could be wrong.

As in many of these long running serials, plots and characters repeat themselves, but this one came off well, and I give it 4/5 acorns.

Mimi

And here's Mimi. Mimi lives with Ted in Madison, Wisconsin. I believe she was First Cat, until she was deposed by Ted and Daisy. I truly have learned not to take cat pictures with a flash, as Mimi also has gone to the devil. As you can see Mimi is allowed to sit on a counter! I have mixed feelings about this. My parents were militant about cats NOT sitting on counters. But Mimi is allowed to sit on counters as long as she minds her own business, looks endearing, and doesn't try to eat any human food she finds. It's none of my business. I don't have cats. But I think she looks cute sitting on the counter.

What is it?

While Upcountry Maui, near where Oprah will have her "preserve", I took a picture of this plant. It had cotton like stuff coming out of the pods that were open. I asked the property owner what it was, and she replied, "It's a weed". The leaves kind of look like Oleander, but the pods are fat and round.
I thought it could be a triffid.

Addicted to thinking

Back to work. Sigh. It was a very good break. In the twilight and sunrise moments my mind usually wanders and gets stuck in the usual places. I'm trying to think of things that make me happy instead. I have a new assistant to get to know. I have lots of details to complete and my yard keeps growing. I don't want to be bogged down with thinking. I plan to jump over those places I get stuck. Maybe I'll try acupuncture again.

I contemplate practicing forgiveness and empathy. Yikes I'm thinking again!

"Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to the feelin'"
....Journey

Hare today, gone to Maui.

My last day of vacation. Waaah, work tomorrow.

Youch!

Today I got my hair done by the remarkable Misa. She talked me into having my eyebrows waxed by Nathan. Youch! There is a Friend's episode I saw about waxing and the 40 year old virgin goes through waxing, albeit of other body parts, and so I was apprehensive. The reason I have such bushy eyebrows after more then half a century of life on this planet is that I've tried plucking and frankly, it hurts. Well let me tell you, waxing hurts, too. I shall view this as penance for enlarging my yarn, fabric and bead stashes, even though I said I was going to stop. The same can be said of chocolate which I looked for reduantly on the WW list of approved foods (surprise! It's not there)

The real question is did it improve my self esteem and confidence? Well after the bleeding, itching, swelling and redness subside, I'll ponder that. Okay, I lied, no bleeding.

At least Nathan praised me for not ordering stencils and trying to do it myself.

Corpse Bride Review

I'm an big fan of Tim Burton and Danny Elfman and this latest collaboration is done very well. It's about love and retribution, families and greed. The characters are done very cleverly. And, it's a musical. I found myself laughing at the quips and characters.

I rate it 4/5 acorns!

Gladiator Review

The current craft is knitting, and I can't follow a pattern and read subtitles at the same time, so TV in English is the way to go.

Gladiator was on again, and I watched it again. I really like Russell Crowe as an actor and he is very good in Gladiator. Joaquin Phoenix plays a very good villain, too.

Whether it was coincident or not, the History Channel was doing a special on the Ceasar's, and was focusing on the morals of the time. I got in on the part starting with Tiberius, to Caligula, Claudius and Nero. Apparently in those times practices consider kapu now(pediophilia, incest, etc)were the norm with with upper class preying upon their slaves, but these 4 Ceasars were even more debauched then usual.

I liked the music at the end of Gladiator when he is floating between the world of the living and the world of the dead, and how he goes to a happy place when his last tie to the living world says, "Go to them." His work was done.

I will give this movie 4.5/5 acorns.