yamaonna

I have just watched the best movie ever!  Okay, well, I’ve just watch two very good movies, and one of them has now gone up in the ranks to be my favourite movie – Bayside Shakedown 2. 

BS2 (ehehe) is a japanese film of course, it was actually released last time I was here, but i never got the chance to see it.  Hired out the movie from the video store this week – it comes with english subs as well, so thats a bonus.  Its basically a police film, along the lines of police academy, but more serious and not quite as in your face with the gags.

I wasnt sure what the plot was before watching it, accept i knew it was set in Odaiba, and it had something to do with the slogan – “Save the Rainbow Bridge”.  now that made me think – terrorist activies, but it actually wasnt.  It was about a murder case in Odaiba.  I had very high expectations for it, and i was very surprised and pleased when it lived up to them.

Its the story of a cop, who is getting a bit bored with local police work.  But no sooner do they establish that then a very serious murder occurs, and higher ranking cops get called in.  The woman in charge is very strict, and keeps causing trouble for everyone – even interferring with local police matters.  Things come to a head when one of the local police women is taken hostage, and the search is on, with potentially disasterous results.

You can easily tell that this is the second movie of a series, and in fact i think it was quite possibly a tv show at some time.  There is a very large cast, and all the characters are developed well, with out actually being introduced to us.  Its quite easy to fit them into the sterotypes that they represent, but as sterotypes go, they arnt all cliche`.

It combines romance, action and humor all very very well.  And theres even a vampire, which surprisingly fits so well with the plot, and yet does not seem utterly ridiculous.  PLUS, its set in Odaiba – my all time favourite place in Tokyo.  Oh, and the plot is stella – enough action, but good plot twists too, so that it doesnt get boring.  And, as a side note, the song on the credits was sung by the lead actor.

watch it if you get the opportunity!

Other than that, i watched My Neighbour Totoro, a kids animation i had been meaning to watch, and Chris had recommened to me.  Very very good.  Its pretty old, I think it was made in 1988, quite simple but not boring at all.  Its about 2 girls who move into the country with their dad while there mum in in hospital. 

Shows the older japanese lifestyle very very well, and combines positive messages about nature, and also touches on imagination and the japanese spirtual, uhhhh,  stuff.  Exellent kids film!  They dont make them like they used to 🙂

Mind you, totoro was larger than i thought he would be, and if i met him, even now, i would be scaired sh*tless (excuse the french, but that thing roars!).