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Departing Osaka Station at 0:00 旅の贈りもの-０：００発 (2006) – Movie Review

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Departing Osaka Station at 0:00

This Japanese movie has been in my queue for a while and I finally got around to watching it this past weekend. “Departing Osaka Station at 0:00” is the type of movie that I really am drawn to because it has elements in it that I love: travel by train, unplanned journeys, a town by the sea… it’s like something out of a dream!

***Spoiler Alert***

There are two main plots, one of possible romance and the other involving a double-suicide, which come together to form a decent, yet unremarkable, story. The title of the movie refers to a special train which starts at Osaka at midnight, with an unknown destination. The passengers have different story-lines and they all come together at the destination town.

The overall ambiance of the film is quiet and calm, with some amount of introspection and character growth, but really there wasn’t enough and it wasn’t treated as deeply or seriously as I think it should have been. That’s my main problem with the movie… there are some aspects that just don’t fit the serious themes, for instance, there are some playful transitions from one scene to the next that you might expect in a straight up comedy. But they just don’t fit here, and they detract from the overall feeling. The subject of suicide is one of the most serious you can bring up, but it’s treated so lightheartedly that it feels almost disrespectful.

I liked the acting very much, especially the postmaster played by the late Hideji Ōtaki (大滝 秀治), and the suicidal teenager played by Hanako Takigawa (多岐川華子). I think her story was a missed opportunity to offer a more serious take on the subject that many people think about. I like that her story mixes with the older businessman’s (played by Shiro Taihei) to show that the problem that affects people of all ages. Unfortunately, the businessman’s character is too comedic to be taken seriously. (He was a comedian, after all)

At any rate, I enjoyed “Departing Osaka Station at 0:00” enough that I’ll seek out more by the same director in the future.

My rating: 8.5/10

Dinner and a movie

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"Blog Photos" Cedar Park, 2016
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/4, 1/80 sec, ISO800
 “Blog Photos” Cedar Park, 2016

こんばんは！ How’s it going?

This evening we had a couple of friends over for dinner and to play with our kitties. After we ate, we decided to watch a movie – Hentai Kamen. It is a crazy flick! Basically, the main character of the movie is a pervert superhero. He’s normally a goofy high-school student, but when he puts panties over his head, he transforms into a hero with special powers. I know… really weird and silly, but it was a fun movie. We laughed a lot, although I think it went on a little bit too long.

It was nice to hang out with our friends, enjoy some yummy food, and have a few drinks together. I made a couple rounds of homemade margaritas, which were delicious. It’s a very simple recipe – just Cointreau, tequila, and lime juice. Basic but yummy. 🍸

Today’s photo is of my wife taking her own photos of some of the food she has prepared for this week. She’s working hard on her own blog and starting to make some money. 😄

Have a good evening!

おやすみなさい！

– バロン Barron Fujimoto

A sci-fi classic

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Cedar Park, 2016
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/3.2, 1/30 sec, ISO3200
 Cedar Park, 2016

こんばんは！

I hope you had a great Saturday. Mine was pretty good! This afternoon Koa played two games in the baseball tournament, and although they lost both, they played well. Probably the best they have played as a team so far this year! However, the teams they went up against were very good… a “select” team, and then the team with the second-best record in the season so far.

Koa did great at the plate, knocking a double over the left-fielder’s head, and then coming round to score later in the evening. He later walked, but got stranded on third. In the next game, he had another hit into the outfield, getting a couple RBIs. He did great! Tomorrow, they have one more game, and I hope they continue with their great play.

After we came back home, I watched 2001: A Space Odyssey with Bay, as you can see in the photo. It’s amazing to think that this movie was release on this day back in 1968, which is the year I was born. The special effects were incredible for the time, and still look great. If you haven’t seen the movie before, or if it has been a while as it was in my case, I recommend watching it again. It’s a true classic.

Well, it’s almost bed time for me, so I’ll sign off for now!

おやすみなさい！

– バロン Barron Fujimoto

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) – Movie Review

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I’ve wanted to see The Secret Life of Walter Mitty for a long time, ever since seeing the trailer, but it hasn’t been streaming on Netflix and I missed my RedBox window. Well, I was happy to find the DVD at my local library yesterday (the librarian even said it was a great movie) so I borrowed it and watched it immediately. Loved it! It grabbed me from the very start… the cinematography and graphic style are amazing. I thought the opening sequence (before the title of the movie shows) was fantastic… like a Bond movie. Not in the action sense, but in the level of detail and imagination. Very polished.

I love the emphasis on photography… the large LIFE posters, the film archival room, Sean’s Nikon film camera, the graphics from film strips making it into the title sequence… it is so cool. And there are a lot of epic shots of amazing views and locations. I especially like the helicopter shots in the North Atlantic.

The movie makes for a wonderful second-viewing as well because there are many small details that take on a lot of significance which you might miss the first time around. The character Cheryl talks about a mystery’s clues all connecting at the end, and that is how the movie unfolds as well. If you rent the movie, make sure to watch it a second time – you’ll know what I mean when you see it!

The reviews on Rotten Tomatoes were mixed (50% critics, 70% audience) and I read one review that pans the movie… saying something like the movie is a “‘Just do it’ ad for the middle-aged.” I can see the truth in that statement… but really, what’s wrong with that? Is inspiration an awful thing? I was moved by The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, moved even to tears a few times I’ll admit. The reviewers on Amazon seem to love the movie as much as I do… it’s got 4.3 stars!

I guess I really am the target-audience of this movie. Lots of the references are really aimed at my generation… Stretch Armstrong, the cassette tape, Major Tom… speaking of that… BOWIE! The scene where Cheryl sings and Walter decides to run for the helicopter was awesome! Best scene! By the way, the soundtrack is great as well.

This will be in my Blu-ray collection soon, along with my other all-time favorites.

So many quotable lines from the movie, but here’s my favorite:

To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other, and to feel. That is the purpose of life.

My rating: 9/10

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (Movie Poster)
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (Movie Poster)

Screen time

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Cedar Park, 2016
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/4, 1/100 sec, ISO1600
 Cedar Park, 2016

こんばんは！

Today was a lazy Saturday, in which I spent several hours in front of the TV. This evening I watched a Japanese movie from 2006, Hana. From the very start, it wasn’t very good and I felt like I was wasting my time… but I kept watching in hopes that it would get better. The reviews on the DVD case were pretty good, so I was optimistic. But no, it stayed on its slow, plodding course until the end. Holy cow, it was so boring… and it was over two hours long! I cannot recommend this one. 😞 Avoid!

Well, tomorrow is Easter. 🐰 We don’t have any plans this year, like we used to when the kids were small. I’m sure we’ll have some yummy food, though! We always do. 🍴

おやすみなさい！

-B Barron Fujimoto