Battle of Algiers/The Lost Command, Here's A Couple

I'd rather be waterboarded! A tender scene from Battle of Algiers. Remember, when
they do it, it's torture. When we do it, it's "enhanced interrogation". Definitions are
important after all. Credit: Rizzoli

                         Battle of Algiers/The Lost Command, Here's A Couple

                                                                by

                                                                    Jay Agan

      Had heard/read about Battle of Algiers a few years back, but the then Criterion price made me back off. Was at the Lane Ave. Half Price Books in Columbus last Saturday. Finding nothing, I was about out the back door when I glanced down while passing the processing/recieving desk. Battle jumped off the stacks into my hot little hands.

      The Gillo Pontecorvo film covers the Algerian insurrection of 57-60 (With a glance at 60-62.) wherin Algeria won its independance from France. Filmed in black & white on location in parts in the claustrophobic confines of the Casbah, one views a close, gritty, noir-like world of move/countermove. While a political thriller/drama, it has the feel of a documentary.

      While obvious Pontecorvos' film is to garner sympathy for the revolution, one can't help but feel hostility towards those who target civilians. The backshooting of policemen (About three times in the film.) is chilling as well though it's later shown as "justified" in the authorities use of torture ..... er, uh enhanced interrogation. Things must be kept in proper perspective. After all, it's not fascism if the right people are doing it.

      Now I realize that one must get "down & dirty" as the enemy does in order to be effective. But let's cut the crap. Torture is torture no matter who does it. Playing with words/definitions changes nothing. If "our" side does it let's call it what it is.

Alain Delon & Anthony Quinn get their point across in The Lost Command.
Credit: Columbia Pictures

     
      After I viewed Battle, I got out an old favorite, The Lost Command. One can't help but wonder if Mark Robson had Gillos' film in mind (George Segal even plays a protagonist named Mahidi.).

      Anthony Quinn plays Colonel Raspeguy, fresh out of POW interment in Viet Nam itching for a new command & getting it: The suppression of the FLN in Algeria. Pressed by circumstances, sometimes caused by "enthusiastic" subordinates, he gets the job done but at the cost of becoming "more like" the enemy. The story ends with Alain Delons' character noting, in spite of a political/military victory, the struggle goes on.

Article copyright © 8-31-2011 Jay Agan

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Neon Genesis Evangelion: OOOOO! Goodies In The Mail!

Here're most of the protagonists (Plus a couple of "villains".) in the series &
a "friend". Clockwise: Unit 01, Asuka Langley Soryu, Gendo Ikari, Ritsuko
Akagi, Rei Ayanami, Shinji Ikari, & Misato Katsuragi. Credit: Gainax

                      Neon Genesis Evangelion: OOOOO! Goodies In The Mail!

                                                                 by

                                                                    Jay Agan

      I up n' dun' it. After You Tubing End of Evangelion I broke down & sent out to Amazon for the movie, the series (Platinum edition. With the six "directors cut" episodes.), & Death and Rebirth ..... USED. Have no intention of spending too much on ANYTHING  let alone some discs. Was able to get End & the series at about half, & spent less than ten bucks on D & R (Good thing too. If you have the series & End, you don't need D&R.)

      Was not originally hot on the franchise as I shy away from "giant robot" stuff (Overdone & dumb.) & I had a misconception about the "good guys" & their ultimate goal. Turns out the vast majority are duped into thinking they're saving mankind from an ill defined supernatural/ extraterrestrial menace all the while they're being used to bring about the end of all human life. The "do-gooders" orchestrating this think they're doing everyone a favor! As there have been some things in my life gone awry because of the good intentions of others I found the premise of the series intrigueing. Then there's the rest of the stuff:

1. Take what is seemingly a giant robot slug fest.

2. Add theological trappings from the Book of Revelation, the Gnostic hereseys, & the Cabbalah.

3. Throw in a conspiratorial group of insiders (A Bilderberg/CFR/Illuminati on crack.) literally hell bent on "saving" you wether you want it or not (I ran with a lot of conspiracy chasing groups in my younger days.).

4. Bring in a VERY reluctant hero, a psycho "nazi" chick, & a creepy yet sympathetic semi-clone with a more than subdued personality.

5. Also a dad who's an anti Ward Cleaver, a tech scientist who is much more involved than she lets on & a more than capable female military officer who also doubles as "the beer fairy".

      Toss the above in together with all the color, action, comedy(?), chaos, collateral damage & death you'd expect in an anime & you have the Evangelion franchise.

      Am done with the first six chapters. Intend to get the rest this week. It's gonna be a long week.

 Article copyright © 8-28-2011 Jay Agan

On the Rapture, Third Impact, Armageddon & All That here.
     
Expert Predicts Third Impact to Hit May 21! here.     
     
Evangelion 2.0: I Can (Not) Get Into This here.

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DISCLAIMER: All images used on this blog are strictly copyrights of their owners. I do not claim credit/ownership for any images used here in my blog unless stated otherwise. If I have offended anyone by posting any images on my blog, please contact me via email and I will remove specified image(s) ASAP.

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Fantasia: Animation As Art In Sight & Sound

Mickey Mouse & Leopold Stokowski greet one another in Fantasia.
Credit: Walt Disney Co.

                          
                                 Fantasia: Animation As Art In Sight & Sound

                                                                 by

                                                                      Jay Agan

      Yes. I know it's not anime. But in assuming that a large number of anime fans are also ANIMATION fans, I would think some of you would be interested. If you are any kind of animation fan, you should see this film at least twice in your lifetime.

      Fantasia for me, was an experience. For years I had heard of it but for one reason or another, couldn't take it in. Finally, in the late 70s, I was able to see it on the big screen twice in as many years, the second with friends. Both times I was absolutely enthralled.

      Fantasia is eight vignettes of some of the most dazzling animation set to pieces of classical music (Most performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski.). They range from the abstract (Johann Sebastian Bachs' Tacota & Fugue in D Minor.) & jump to the definite in the various pieces set to Pyotr Tchaikovskys' Nutcracker Suite. My favorite would be the piece set to Igor Stravinskys' Rite of Spring wherin the Earths' fiery formation to the extinction of the dinosaurs is depicted. A close second would be the demon Chernabog gyrating/gestulating to the music of Modest Musorgskys' Night On Bald Mountain.

The "terrible lizards" in a battle for survival to the tune of Musorgskys' Rite of Spring.
Credit: Walt Disney Co.

The demon Chernabog surveys his twisted host of the damned in the
Night on Bald Mountain piece in Fantasia. Credit: Walt Disney Co.

      I remember dropping by my parents one day to find Mom, sister & niece watching Fantasia on tape. The niece was totally transfixed & asked why she didn't see this "new" film in theaters yet. My sister laughing as Mom patiently explained how old the film was (Released 1940.). The kid refused to believe it.

      Reminds me when I attended a 24 hour sci-fi marathon at the Drexel North (Columbus, OH) in the early 90s. They showed a mint print of Forbidden Planet (1956). Some folks thought they were seeing a sneak preview of  a new movie! Good times.

      Oh yes. Fantasia 2000 is definitley worth checking out.

                                          Article copyright © 8-26-2011 Jay Agan
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DISCLAIMER: All images used on this blog are strictly copyrights of their owners. I do not claim credit/ownership for any images used here in my blog unless stated otherwise. If I have offended anyone by posting any images on my blog, please contact me via email and I will remove specified image(s) ASAP.

Bonfire of the Vanities: Check Your Arrogance At The Door

The three principles of  Bonfire of the Vanities.
L-R: Peter Fallow (Bruce Willis), Maria Ruskin
 (Melanie Griffith), Sherman McCoy (Tom Hanks).
Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

                      Bonfire of the Vanities: Check Your Arrogance At The Door

                                                                  by

                                                                      Jay Agan

      Sherman McCoy (Tom Hanks) is a MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE! And he KNOWS it. You do too. If you don't .....

      Ruler of all he surveys. Master mind of Wall Street. Always at the top of his game, invincible. Has a more than lovely wife & daughter. Owns a beutiful Manhattan town house apt. Luxury is common to him & he wants for nothing. He even has a high maintenance mistress (Melanie Griffith).

      A bungled call to her (He inadvertantly calls his own home & his wife wonders who Maria is.) sets off a chain of events leading to ruin & redemption. How it unfolds, thereby hangs a tale.

      The Bonfire of the Vanities has something to offend everyone. "Guilty" liberal/arrogant conservative whites, exploiters of ethnic minority interests, feminists, media locusts, people in general, and of course, the lowest of the low ..... lawyers & politicians. These forces conspire to bring poor Sherman down. Close in on him to devour him like a pack of hyperthyrodic piranas. Why? Perhaps they must, but it mainly is because they can.

      It is made quite clear in the picture early on, the Bronx D.A. is up for re-election & that a white scapegoat is needed for a high profile case in order to pander to minority votes & special interests. And Sherman's the "lucky" one as an incident on a dark street wherin a youth is run over (Mistress Maria was driving the car.), expands into the court case of the century. Circumstances beyond his control, Hanks' character loses not only family, profession, wealth, success ..... but also his illusions & arrogance (Some have thought Hanks played a more sympathetic character than the one in the Tom Wolfe book.). It is later stated, that Sherman (Off camera.) has found new self respect & redemption as a result.

      In a twist only possible in a "convoluted" legal system, Sherman commits counter-perjury against his turncoat squeeze (She said he drove the car.) in order for the truth to come out. With a tape of her admission played before a breathless courtroom he claims he made the recording himself making it seem like admissable evidence (The machine was planted by rent control authorities for investigative purposes in exposing of illegal subletting in the apartment Maria shared.).

      The spectacle is mostly viewed & narrated by Peter Fallow (Bruce Willis) a down on his luck reporter who originally fanned the public flames against Sherman and later feeling remorse over having helped put him in such a horrendous situation.

      One of my guages as to how good a flick is is audience reaction. I noticed many of the mixed audience I was in were, in many parts of the film, nodding & shaking their heads ..... & smiling ..... with "been there, seen that" looks on their faces.

      This film was panned by the critics. Guess it hit too close to home for some of them. I like to think "critics" (A form of media locust.) have no effect on me but they do. If they say "don't see it", I probably will.

      By the way. This film makes for a sorta kinda "companion piece" to How To Murder Your Wife.

                                        Article copyright © 8-24-2011 Jay Agan

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DISCLAIMER: All images used on this blog are strictly copyrights of their owners. I do not claim credit/ownership for any images used here in my blog unless stated otherwise. If I have offended anyone by posting any images on my blog, please contact me via email and I will remove specified image(s) ASAP.

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It's Baaaaaack! Yay! Whoopeee!

     

     
      Looks like Blogger fixed it! A very short "vacation" indeed. Will try to get a new article up by Wednesday. "See" ya then!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH! Oh, hi.

       Seems to be a hit count problem going on Blogger wide. Lotsa folks checking in about it. Blogger says they're on it. As this is as good an excuse as any, I'll take a little "vacation" from blogging. Will be checking in daily. Hopefully Blogger will have this corrected soon & cut this hiatus of mine VERY short.

      Very sorry for the inconvenience. Please stay tuned.

Lifeforce/Return of the Living Dead: Two That Left Me Cold

Patrick Stewart accomodating Steve Railsback on the trail of the "energy
vampire" in Lifeforce. Credit: Tri-Star Pictures

                      Lifeforce/Return of the Living Dead: Two That Left Me Cold

                                                                by

                                                                   Jay Agan

      After having done a previous article on End of Evangelion, I got to thinking about other films I thought disturbing for the same reason(s). These two came to mind.

      While both have a babe running around butt-nekkid for much of the picture, I found that more discombobulating than disturbing. As much as I like being discombobulated as much as the next guy (Sin is fun for a season, then you pay.), I don't think it adds much to the story though it certainly does catch the attention.

      It was their respective "takes" on the afterlife that got to me.

      Lifeforce involves "energy vampires" whose goal is to store up human souls for a 75 year "food" supply every time Halleys' comet comes around. Return of the Living Dead postulates ones' soul stays in the grave & experiences the pain of rot & loneliness forever. Or at least until you finally go to dust. Both forecast a miserable "hereafter" thus showing life as nothing more than a sick joke. I disagree.

      God created us for the purpose of loving Him. The spiritual meaning of life is "To love the Lord thy God with all your heart, soul, mind & strength, & to love thy neighbor as thyself."(Mark 12:30 & 31) It is partially through this one can avoid a dismal eternity (For specifics, click on this link here. It is imperitive you read this, particularly the second half.).

      I refuse to think of life as a colossal, meaningless joke. I don't want to miss out on eternity & the opportunity to delve into the greatest mind ever. I've many questions to ask & wonders to experience (1st Corinthians 2:9). We are all looking at eternity & I want nothing  in my way. "Messages" in movies included.
     
                                       Article copyright © 8-17-2011 Jay Agan

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Space Aliens: It's What I've Been Saying All Along

Credit: Max Cannon

                             Space Aliens: It's What I've Been Saying All Along
     
      Max Cannon has really hit the nail on the head. As countless movies, publications, & other media have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, space aliens, ETs, etc. are NOT to be trusted! If they're not trying to eat us, they're out to enslave us or worse (Hentai aficionados {An almost as weird bunch.} take note!)! They're green, drip slime, & eat babies! You have been warned.

      Max Cannon has got to be one of the greatest purveyers of weird humor ever. His Red Meat is up there with Addams, Larson, & Wilson. For more of his craziness, check out his website.

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DISCLAIMER: All images used on this blog are strictly copyrights of their owners. I do not claim credit/ownership for any images used here in my blog unless stated otherwise. If I have offended anyone by posting any images on my blog, please contact me via email and I will remove specified image(s) ASAP.

End of Evangelion: This Is (Really) Disturbing

                                End of Evangelion: This Is (Really) Disturbing

                                                                by

                                                                    Jay Agan

      I have seen the future. Not even the children were spared! Well, two of them anyway. Fascist Femme & Wonder Wimp. After seeing End of Evangelion, I'm still trying to decide wether Hideaki Anno is one of animes' greatest creative geniuses or a stark raving nutjob. Probably both.

      I bought the two Rebuild movies (Evangelion 1.11: You Are {Not} Alone & Evangelion 2.22: You Can {Not} Advance.) back in May at Armagedicon 6 in Columbus, Ohio out of curiosity. I understood the original series, Neon Genesis Evangelion (AKA Diary of a {Very} Wimpy Kid) to be full of theological whackness thus my interest was piqued. I've always been curious over theological concepts & anime has its' share of renditions. Serial Experiments Lain is more than interesting & The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is flat out funny. But the Evangelion franchise ..... ?

      I originally steered clear of the franchise as I felt the "giant robot" sub-genre as overdone in general & the Human Instrumentality Project repelled me. The thought of the ultimate goal of the good guys being the destruction of mankind was a turn off. When I found that most of the protagonists had no knowledge of that & were being used as pawns in an orchestrated scenario/sick game by various factions of "do-gooders", I thought I'd give it a try.

      After viewing the first two Rebuild flicks & finding I couldn't wait for the other two (Evangelion 3.0: Q You Will {Not} Be Released & Evangelion 4.0: Your'e {Not} Going Anywhere Either, Buddy.), I had to find some temporary cloture, thus End of Evangelion. Yeah, some "missing chapters" & no Mari Makinami but what the hey, huh?

      End of Evangelion is a two chapter replacement for the last two (25 & 26) of the original series. The last two left a lot of fans cold & Anno made this later for theatrical release. Fandom wanted a Grand Finale & Anno gave it to them. Right ..... between ..... the ..... eyes.

      Is it a thoughtfully crafted study of the dark side of the human condition or a horrendously warped dementia of a trainwreck? It's up to the viewer to decide. I'm thinking it may be a thoughtfully crafted dementia of a trainwreck. It's either horribly wonderful or wonderfully horrible. I couldn't tear my eyes away from watching it & can't stop thinking about it. It made me question my salvation (Just kidding, but you get the idea.).

      The first scene is totally uncalled for. You'll know it when you see it, nuff said.

      "I'm so f----d up!"

      Yes Shinji. You certainly are. (Someone! Quick! Beat the snot out of him!)

      The government's gotten wise & is out to destroy NERV. Unfortunately they're playing into SEELEs' hands & are just as much dupes as are 99.99% of the NERV staff. They thought they were defending human existance from a quasi theological/ extraterrestrial menace ..... which to all appearances they were, but for the fact the war was a smokescreen for the eventual gathering of all human souls into a vast construct of collective nonentity, the end of conflict, pain & loneliness: Oblivious Nirvana wether you want it or not (Thanks a lot you well intentioned, homicidal humanitarians!). Caught between SEELE & Gendo, the military & NERV duke it out with NERV getting the worst of it. It's Terminate With Extreme Prejudice, including the kids in callous disregard.

      Axisgrrl (Asuka) is hidden away with her Eva unit & later forced to battle the JSSDF forces along with nine mass production Eva units (Which are later used as catalysts for Third Impact/  Instrumentality). She's outnumbered & "killed".

      After confrontation & death of Ritsuko, Gendo preps Rei for implementing instrumentality only to have her turn the tables on him. Not willing to be "used" by him she initiates the process on her own & merges with Lillith, the captive giant "angel" kept prisoner in the lower levels of NERV base.

      Through all this, Misato is busy prodding & kicking Wimpy Boy into action. She eventually dies in the attempt after "motivating" him in another way.

      "That was an adult kiss. We'll do the rest later."

      Whoa!

      Moving along, we're stuck inside Shinjis' head, a mass of montage & introspection as well as "S&M" with Asuka & whine, whine, WHINE! He finally explodes & tries to strangle her. Snapping out of his dream he then heads out in his Eva unit for battle only to end up as part of the festivities to follow: Third Impact, Instrumentality, the rapture on steroids & PCP.



Artists' rendition of the Lillith-Rei construct readying the Black Moon/egg
for the gathering of all human souls on Earth. Beutiful, if you don't think
too much about what it is.

      
      Interesting how Lillith-Rei breaks down resistance in gathering souls. She knows the desires of each & everyones' heart & resistance is futile. AT fields (The force holding soul & body together.) break down, bodies disolve to the primordial soup (LCL) & all the souls of humanity are gathered into the Black Moon/Lilliths' Egg. The Earth is covered in the entitys' spreading overwhelming AT field with cross like explosions accompanied by billions of individual pixie-ish screams of terror & cries of joyous delight. The end of all human existance. The beginning of ..... What?

      There's also some of the most "horrific" psychosexual imagery I've ever seen in an anime. Not meaning to take the Lords' name in vain, but ..... Oh ..... my ..... GOD!

      All this accompanied by Komm Susser Tod (Come Sweet Death), its' "Hey Jude"-like melody/beat enhancing (?) the surreal weirdness. A fun, happy call to suicide.

      Back in Shinjis' head, he's discussing the matter with Rei & later his mother (Whose soul is imbued in his Eva-unit.). He decides to reject instrumentality causing the deterioration of Lillith-Rei & the releasing of humanitys' souls.

      We're left finding Shinji on the sand with Asuka lying beside him, the gods blood stained ocean beating its tidal rythym on the shore. He decides to pick up for real from where he left off mentally & tries to choke the life out of her, but can't bring himself to finish it.

      I love happy endings, don't you? By the way. What happened to the penguin?

Hope you'll excuse the profanity (I didn't make this.). This pretty
much sums up the reaction of many who have seen End of
Evangelion.

      As I've sorta kinda hinted at, I'm not sure I like this flick or not. It's certainly compelling. The few friends I have will be more than happy to attest to the fact that I'm a disturbed individual. I certainly didn't need this. As it is, I'm now stuck with End of Evangelion in my head. I can only wonder what 4.0 will be like.

      I'll leave with the tender last bit of dialogue uttered by Asuka to Shinji before the credits roll:

      "How ..... Disgusting!"

      Ain't love grand?


                                     Article copyright © 8-12-2011 Jay Agan
      
     
      End of Evangelion Pt. 1 here.
     
      Third Impact English dub here. Lower quality picture.
     
      Third Impact with Japanese subtitles here.
     
      Komm Susser Tod/End of Evangelion "music video" here.

      Neon Genesis Evangelion: OOOOO! Goodies In The Mail! here.
     
      On the Rapture, Third Impact, Armageddon & All That here.
     
      Expert Predicts Third Impact to Hit May 21! here.     
     
      Evangelion 2.0: I Can (Not) Get Into This here.

      Go to Main Page here.

DISCLAIMER: All images used on this blog are strictly copyrights of their owners. I do not claim credit/ownership for any images used here in my blog unless stated otherwise. If I have offended anyone by posting any images on my blog, please contact me via email and I will remove specified image(s) ASAP.

This article (only) may be copied in whole or in part. Please cite proper credit & backlink.

Of Dr. Faustus & Color TVs



The film where Richard Burton ends up going to the "other place." Detroit!
Credit: Columbia Pictures

                                      
                                           Of Dr. Faustus & Color TVs

                                                             by

                                                                  Jay Agan

      For a couple summers in the late 60s, Dad rented a cabin in western Kentucky (The "Land Between the Lakes" area.) where we'd spend a weeks' vacation. Touring the sites & museums & lots & LOTS of swimming.

      The second year, Dad was able to get the resort staff to replace the black & white TV that came with the cabin with a color set. Now it may not seem so important today, but back then, color TV was still a big deal ..... & expensive.

      It was on our second day the color set arrived. Physically it was smaller than the b & w it replaced. As Mom & baby sister were out for a walk, Dad told us kids not to tell them & see if they'd notice.

      Later the set's on & finally Mom took note. When baby sister made no comment, she was asked if there was any difference.

      "It's little-er", she replied.

      She noticed the sets' size but not the picture. We thought that cute.

      Later that week, the Richard Burton/Liz Taylor flick "Doctor Faustus" was aired (I think it was ABC.) We sat in rapt attention, not because it was scary as it was interesting (Didn't think of it as a play. I thought it was going to be a horror movie.). In it, Liz Taylor played the principle female parts & ultimately dragged Dick to "heck & gone". All right, HELL!

      Later on the way home, to help pass the time, we speculated as to where Satan was in that flick. Baby sister said maybe Taylor was.

      "You could be right Sheila," was Dads' reply.

      I guess the observation about the TVs' size was due to "lateral thinking".

                                     Article copyright © 8-10-2011 Jay Agan

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DISCLAIMER: All images used on this blog are strictly copyrights of their owners. I do not claim credit/ownership for any images used here in my blog unless stated otherwise. If I have offended anyone by posting any images on my blog, please contact me via email and I will remove specified image(s) ASAP.

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Angel Beats English Dub: First Impressions or What I Got This Week




Iwasawa & the moron. Of course I mean that in a nice way but you knew that. Right?
Credit: P. A. Works

                            
                Angel Beats English Dub: First Impressions or What I Got This Week

                                                                  by

                                                                      Jay Agan

      My birthday present to myself came earlier than expected. I placed the order at Amazon Friday night. "ETA" 8-4 to 8-6. Came 8-3. No way was I going to pay an extra fifteen bucks to get it 8-1. I waited months for the release, I could wait a few more days.

      Opened the package (snail mail) & there they were. Angel Beats & Kiss Me Deadly. The one I waited for & Ralph Meeker as Mike Hammer. Mickey Spillane & anime, what a combo! Va va voom, Mikey! Pow!

      When I read of the English dub casting I had misgivings. Luci Christian as Iwasawa? I immediately thought of the "bad girls" Ms. Christian VOed in the past. Kaname Chidori /Mikura Suzuki/Miss Yukari as the driven musician? No Way! I thought the part of Yuri to be more fitting. My concern lessened as I viewed the eighth ep of Kinos' Journey: "Land of Wizards-Potentials of Magic" wherin she voiced Nimya, the aviatrix. And you know what? She did Iwasawa more than well!

      Brittney Karbowsky, by the way, does an excellent job as Yuri, the girl gunning for God.

      I at first thought Hilary Haag as Yui to be a little too intense, but as the character is that way to begin with, hey, how else could one play the irritating, hyper, too cute to live (She is dead after all.), lovable dipwad?

      Months ago, I You Tubed the series in the original Japanese. I got the impression the show was rather somber with comedic elements here & there. I was a little surprised when I read reviews saying it was more a comedy than I thought. Now watching it in English, I see what they mean. Comedy, at least in my case, is easier heard in ones' own language.

                                           Article copyright © 8-4-2011 Jay Agan

Angel Beats: Not A Haruhi Clone here.

Angel Beats Episode 4.5 here.

Angel Beats Redux here.

Go to Main Page here.

DISCLAIMER: All images used on this blog are strictly copyrights of their owners. I do not claim credit/ownership for any images used here in my blog unless stated otherwise. If I have offended anyone by posting any images on my blog, please contact me via email and I will remove specified image(s) ASAP.

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Lost In Translation & Out Three Bucks

With Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray shows off his broad range of
acting ability. Here it's hat off. Credit: Focus Features.

                                     Lost In Translation & Out Three Bucks

                                                                 by

                                                                     Jay Agan

      I got Lost In Translation as a three buck "special" at my local Big Lots. I thought I'd get some culture. I thought I'd get some laffs. I thought I'd be entertained. I thought ..... I thought some thinking went into making this flick. Maybe some did but ..... What the heck were they thinking?

      Bill Murray, a bored & boring DEADpan actor, plays an aging, bored & boring DEADpan actor languishing in Tokyo while doing an ad for a local distillery. Being bored, boring & DEADpan he does bored, boring & DEADpan things to pass the time. Why? Because his life & marriage has become bored, boring, & DEAD.

      Into his bored, boring & DEAD existance comes Scarlett Johansson, a not so bored, boring & DEAD actress playing the wife of a celeb photog too wrapped up in his work. As it takes a while for them to warm up to one another, it's love at third sight. And off they go committing adultery lite, that is it doesn't get "consumated". Just as well. Ole DEADpan would have made it look ..... creepy.

      Instead, we see them taking in the sights, not of Japan necessarily, as much of a crowded cityscape full of folks speaking Japanese. I expected something more than a town full or "foreigners". Something more uh ..... Japanesy (Is that a word?).

      This flick could have been shot anywhere/anyone as a two dimensional backdrop. London, Paris, Rome, Delaware  Ohio. Just have a lot of people milling about a cityscape. Saturate it with anything but the English language & you'd have an "exotic" locale. Any cultural uniqueness can be ignored.

      The scene with the pole dancer gyrating to "You Can Suck My T-----s" momentarily raised the bar half a notch. That's how bad this flick is. The tension meter jumped a little when Bill had a (thankfully off camera) one night stand with a hotel bar singer & Ms. Johansson finding out.

      Sofia Coppola may have been hoping for the viewer to garner sympathy for these two. Me, I wasn't disgusted as much as I was bored (& feeling boring & DEAD.). It was like Bridges of Madison County without the scenery. Not only couldn't I sympathise, I couldn't feel anything.

      This flick grossed over a hundred mil at the box office, recieved an Oscar, several other awards & much acclaim. H. L. Mencken was right: "No one in this world has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people."
     
      The film ends with Murray embracing Johansson among a herd of aimless locals in downtown Delaware Ohio ..... er ..... uh Tokyo. As he does so he mutters something unintelligable. Him & me both.

                                     Article copyright © 8-3-2011 Jay Agan

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