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Reviews
Lie lie Lie (1997)
Clever, dry wit
I found this film to be very enjoyable. The characters were well developed, and their interactions were interesting. Etsushi Toyokawa is very charming as Aikawa, the swindler. The humor is not so much "laugh out loud" funny as it is pleasantly amusing and engaging. It is kind of like "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" without the slapstick, done in Japanese. Unfortunately, it is difficult to track down a copy of this film with English subtitles in my region. But it is worth seeing if you can find it.
Dog Star (2002)
Not a typical romantic comedy
You know how every romantic comedy has the same basic plot line? This one is actually very different. A seeing-eye dog (Shiro) is granted one wish by his former owner. He chooses to become a human for a short time so he can find the girl who trained him as a puppy. While attempting to get to know her (as he runs along behind her and sniffs for her around town) he eventually falls in love with her. It sounds very strange, but it actually plays out as a very sweet, quirky comedy. (It doesn't hurt that Shiro in his human form is played by the always handsome Etsushi Toyokawa.) I found the movie to be quite enjoyable, and it was a nice change from the norm in this genre.
Sennen tabito (1999)
Very Sweet
Sennen Tabito is the story of a dying piano player (played by Etsushi Toyokawa) who returns to his home town for the final days of his life. While there, he encounters the teenaged daughter of his childhood girlfriend. Her parents are both gone, and she lives with her grandmother. The piano player forms a sort-of paternal bond with her. Together, they rescue a man who tries to commit suicide, and he sticks around as a guest and is irritating. The relationship between the piano player and the girlfriend's daughter is very sweet.
The movie is a little slow moving. There are few long sequences of dialogue in this movie, as the story tends to be propagated through the musings and behaviors of the characters. Overall, this movie is well acted. The ocean scenes are lovely, and the story itself is very engaging. I would recommend it to anyone who can enjoy movies that are devoid of fight scenes and massive explosions.
Bulletproof Monk (2003)
Bad bad bad
Bulletproof Monk is a great movie, if you don't mind a lousy script, a disjointed story line, poor acting, and bad directing. The Kung-Fu wasn't even good. The story was predictable and formulaic, but also had some bizarre elements that left me wondering if I had missed a scene. This is a movie that I would recommend skipping.
Ed Wood (1994)
Delightful and Well-Acted
Ed Wood is a wonderful, quirky movie. Martin Landau gave a remarkable performance as Bella Lugosi. The film was well acted, well scripted, and well directed. It was humorous, but respectful to the people portrayed. I would recommend it to anyone who likes good movies.
The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001)
Painful and Awful
If anyone else had done this movie, it would have been panned. Any success "Curse of the Jade Scorpion" enjoyed is because it was affiliated with Woody Allen's name. The punch lines were bad and the storyline was boring and predictable. It's one thing to see old jokes and comedic situations brought back to life with sparkle and panache. This movie, however, dragged on and on, rehashing every cliche within it's grasp along the way. It is hard to watch an American icon get older and sink into mediocrity, especially in comparison to the talents of his youth. When the movie was over, I wanted my money back for the rental.