Hey everyone. So I didn't watch an obvious choice this week because I wasn't interested in Non Stop or 3 Days to Kill or Son of God, instead I opted for this lovely little movie. I've heard about this director, mainly from a cinephile buddy of mine (calm down folks, it's an actual word). It's actually my first Japanese animation movie. I used to watch several anime like TV shows back when I was in elementary school so I went in prepared for a similar experience. I however wasn't prepared for that little brat who just wouldn't shut up in the cinema. I get it kid, you're bored and your parents probably thought you'd enjoy a cartoon. They didn't however anticipate the very adult nature of the show (not in a Rated R way, calm down perverts). So I don't blame you yappity brat, I blame your inconsiderate parents who had the nerve to play you YouTube clips while others were watching a movie. I curse you, you will pay for it because I'm Indian and karma is a bitch. Anyway, let's review.......
It's hard to provide a synopsis without spoilers for this movie. I just walked in to the cinema without a clue about the plot. I'll try my best though. Basically it's about this actual Japanese engineer who engineered war planes for Japan during world war II, or at least a fictionalized biography of that dude. That dude's name is Jiro Horikoshi. So here's something you need to know about Asians, we love things that don't make sense. Bollywood movies are the epitome of things that don't make sense in life. Oriental Asian countries like their folklore, legends, and old grandmother's tales kinda stuff. In this movie, it's shared dreams and elements of fantasy galore. Being Asian myself (don't be in denial, Indians are Asians too), it made sense for me because I grew up with these kind of things. Students would make up stories about haunted bathrooms at our Convents and we'd buy it because we believed in fantastical elements more than we should. I'm not going to do a spoiler filled review for this movie because it's something you need to experience for yourself. However, I will provide you with a guide of what to expect and you'll be good to go.
1) Waterfall Cries
If you've ever seen an Anime, you'll know that they have their own unique way of crying. Case and point......
If you've ever seen an Anime, you'll know that they have their own unique way of crying. Case and point......
and finally.........
Just know that it's not meant to be funny in this movie. It's genuinely the way they cry in anime.
2) Animations that make it look real and cartoonish at the same time
One of the things I loved about the movie was the animation. It was pretty awesome how realistic the scenery looked and how it changed once the cartoon-like characters joined the scenes. It's also going to be hard for you to tell between races in this animation. They all look the same regardless of whether they are Italian, German, or Japanese. I thought it was pretty cool. Equality for all, bitches!
One of the things I loved about the movie was the animation. It was pretty awesome how realistic the scenery looked and how it changed once the cartoon-like characters joined the scenes. It's also going to be hard for you to tell between races in this animation. They all look the same regardless of whether they are Italian, German, or Japanese. I thought it was pretty cool. Equality for all, bitches!
3) Short Japanese Boss Man
For some odd reason unbeknownst to me, there's always a really short Asian guy who suffices at comic relief in movies like this. He is most likely to end up being your favorite character. Think of him as an animated Asian version of Danny DeVito (with more hair).
For some odd reason unbeknownst to me, there's always a really short Asian guy who suffices at comic relief in movies like this. He is most likely to end up being your favorite character. Think of him as an animated Asian version of Danny DeVito (with more hair).
So...........can you spot him?
4) Kids.....smoking is not prohibited
DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT take your kids to see this movie if smoking is a big issue for you. The characters here smoke like chimneys and even go so far as to discuss German cigarettes and Japanese ones. If you're an adult, that's cool and you might even wanna get your hands on some Japanese cigarettes just for the heck of it, but if you're one of those over-protective parents who's trying to keep your kid out of harms way, because you just know that they are NEVER going to do anything bad or stupid when they grow up.....then don't take them to watch this movie.
DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT take your kids to see this movie if smoking is a big issue for you. The characters here smoke like chimneys and even go so far as to discuss German cigarettes and Japanese ones. If you're an adult, that's cool and you might even wanna get your hands on some Japanese cigarettes just for the heck of it, but if you're one of those over-protective parents who's trying to keep your kid out of harms way, because you just know that they are NEVER going to do anything bad or stupid when they grow up.....then don't take them to watch this movie.
5) The Japanese have American accents
This movie was dubbed in English for a western audience and as a result you get Japanese characters with American accents. Though it's funny how they sound super Japanese when pronouncing names then it's back to the American accent. It's not meant to be a mockery of any kind, it's just because the dubbed voices are by American actors. It's funny though how they made the Italian guy have an Italian accent (voiced by Stanley Tucci) and the Germans have German accents. If you're fans of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt (who has a nice hybrid of an American/Asian accent), or John Krasinski, their voices are pretty prominent in the movie and you should be able to point them out, or you could check Wikipedia or IMDB to see who's voicing who (if you wanna take the fun out of it party poopers).
This movie was dubbed in English for a western audience and as a result you get Japanese characters with American accents. Though it's funny how they sound super Japanese when pronouncing names then it's back to the American accent. It's not meant to be a mockery of any kind, it's just because the dubbed voices are by American actors. It's funny though how they made the Italian guy have an Italian accent (voiced by Stanley Tucci) and the Germans have German accents. If you're fans of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt (who has a nice hybrid of an American/Asian accent), or John Krasinski, their voices are pretty prominent in the movie and you should be able to point them out, or you could check Wikipedia or IMDB to see who's voicing who (if you wanna take the fun out of it party poopers).
6) Sacrifice is everything for Asians because we can be super dramatic that way
So here's the thing, Asians are super sacrificial. When you're kids, you sacrifice your happiness for good grades to make parents happy, if you don't do that, you sacrifice your skin to the beatings of rattan. When you grow up, you sacrifice your marriage by taking in your in-laws. It's just the way it works for Asians. In this movie, you'll see a different form of sacrifice, so don't be put off by it, it's meant to be sweet and endearing because sacrifice is the new sexy.
So here's the thing, Asians are super sacrificial. When you're kids, you sacrifice your happiness for good grades to make parents happy, if you don't do that, you sacrifice your skin to the beatings of rattan. When you grow up, you sacrifice your marriage by taking in your in-laws. It's just the way it works for Asians. In this movie, you'll see a different form of sacrifice, so don't be put off by it, it's meant to be sweet and endearing because sacrifice is the new sexy.
What did I think about the movie? I kind of loved it. Maybe it's my inner Asian-ness trying to break free or maybe it took me back to my childhood, but I just loved it. Everyone should experience something like this once a life-time. I love it when you get to experience a different culture through a movie, and this movie achieves just that. I would give this movie a rating of :
It's not just a movie, it's an experience (aka 4.5/5 stars)
It's not just a movie, it's an experience (aka 4.5/5 stars)
Hope you had a Reel Good Time
- Vidya
- Vidya