Little Miss Sunshine

Little Miss Sunshine / 2006 / 101minutes



-Main cast
Abigail Breslin as Olieve Hoover
Greg Kinnear as Richard Hoover
Paul Dano as Dwayne
Alan Arkin as Grandpa Edwin Hoover
Toni Collette as Sheryl Hoover
Steve Carell as Frank Ginberg

-Plot
Olieve is 7 year old girl, and her family is little strange.

Olieve: 7 year old girl.Her dream is winning the Little Miss Sunshine contest. (It’s a beauty contest.)
Dwayne: Olieve’s brother. He wants to be a pilot. He is fanatic of Nietzsche, has vowed not to talk until his dream comes true. He doesn’t talk with his family at all.
Edwin: Olieve’s grandpa. He was expelled from institution for old people and is heroin addict. He is Olieve’s coach, and is coaching Olieve in her contest.
Richard: Olieve’s father. He introduce self-improvement technique using 9 steps to reach, but it doesn’t work well. He said Olieve “Be winner”, but actually he is completely loser.
Shery: Olieve’s mother. She is a heavy smoker. She tries to keep her family happy, but exhausts herself by working as mother.
Frank: Olieve’s uncle. He is homosexual and Proust scholor, and tried to commit suicide when he was rejected by his boyfriend. So he has to be guarded by his family, so he lives with them.

One day, Olieve gets a chance to join Little Miss Sunshine in Redondo Beach, California. Her family travel from Albuquerque, New Mexico riding very old mini bus.

-My comments
This movie is about “family”. It makes us think about our own family. I think there wasn’t perfect family doesn’t have any problem.
My favorite actor in this movie is Paul Dano as Dwayne (Olieve’s brother). Dwayne has vowed not to talk until his dream comes true. I guess the performance without any lines is very difficult.
I don’t know whether the ending is happy or not. So I’m not sure you like it. But try it!

thank you sooo much for your reading and comments! :)

JAPANESE MOVIES

Most of my friends like English movies. I began to watch English movie after entering the university. Until I’ve entered this university, I rarely watched it. Now I like English movie, but I still like Japanese movie! So I’ll introduce you JAPANESE movies.




First, my favorite actor is Sasaki Kuranosuke. He appears in 20世紀少年, ぼくたちと駐在さんの700日戦争, 誰も守ってくれない and 間宮兄弟. The great of them all is ぼくたちと駐在さんの700日戦争. It’s story about high school students. I’ve never watched it without crying.





Second, film directors whom I like are Mitani Kouki and Kudo Kankuro. Their works are みんなのいえ, ラジオの時間, THE 有頂天ホテル, ザ・マジックアワー (Mitani) & 木更津キャッツアイ, なくもんか (Kudo). These are basically comedy, but it’s not just comedy. They have some sort of message. That’s why I like them.





Third, I wanna recommend you to watch 容疑者Xの献身 and パコダテ人.
I guess everyone who read my blog knows 容疑者Xの献身. When I was in the 3rd grade in junior high school, I bought and read the original novel of this movie. It made me think about “LOVE” (I still don’t know what it is exactly.) and I was touched by it. And in the first year of high school, I watched it with my friends. And I cried!! I think Tsutsumi Shinichi’s performance in it is extraordinary great! I can lend you both of the novel and the DVD.
And I guess パコダテ人 isn’t famous. Do you know it? Miyazaki Aoi appears in it and she is soooo cute! I’m sure that all the boys who watch it fall in love with her.





Finally, the latest movies I watched are ちょんまげぷりん and SP.
ちょんまげぷりん sounds funny or weird but it’s really good one. Nishikido Ryo and Tomosaka Rie appear in it. I watched it in theater with my sister. This movie moved me, and I cried hard without hesitate.
And, I think everyone knows about SP. And I love Okada Junichi. Everything includes all action scenes is never a stunt person. Do you believe it?!

Thank you for reading. Tell me your favorite JAPANESE movie.

Sister Act

Sister Act / 1992 / 100 minutes



-Main cast
Whoopi Goldberg as Deloris Van Cartier / Sister Mary Clarence
Maggie Smith as Reverend Mother
Kathy Najimy as Sister Mary Patrick
Wendy Makkena as Sister Mary Robert
Mary Wickes as Sister Mary Lazarus
Harvey Keitel as Vince LaRocca

-Plot
Deloris is a singer in Las Vegas. Her boy friend is Vince who is gang. He won’t divorce his wife and Deloris breaks up with him. Shortly after that she witnesses Vince committing murder. She have to hide from Vince. She asks police for help. They search the place which Vince couldn’t find Deloris. That is convent! She is disappointed because she have to pretend to be a nun. But she soon makes friends with the nuns. One day, she goes out in the night with other nuns. As its punishment, she was ordered to join the choir. This choir is really bad. So she decided to change them. The choir gets better little by little. But it brings problems to Deloris.

-My comments
My friend recommended this movie to me long time ago. Finally, I watched it! I like it so much!! This movie came out 18 years ago. I’m sure it moved us all through the ages. Especially I like the scene which the choir’s members are singing. The last scene is wonderful. I like Mary Robert’s singing voice!! It’s awesome!!
I watched “Sister Act 2”. This is also good one. If you like “Sister Act”, I recommend you to watch “Sister Act 2”. In “Sister Act 2”, the main characters are not nuns but students.
I think “Oh happy day” is famous song in this movie. You can watch and listen on You Tube. If you don’t have enough time to watch this movie, I want you to just listen to this song! I love it!

GO TO YouTube!!　↓↓
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gOngg2y0jc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wilBK-zuZLk

Readers! Thank you for reading this blog! and thank you sooooo much for writing comments! I really enjoy reading your comments!

The Devil Wears Prada

The Devil Wears Prada / 2006 / 109 minutes



-Main cast
Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs
Emily Blunt as Emily
Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly
Stanley Tucci as Nigel
Adrian Grenier as Nate

-Plot
Andy Sachs is plain girl and she isn’t careless of her appearance. She wants to become a journalist. However, she is employed by company which publishes very popular fashion magazine “RUNWAY”.
She works as second assistant of editor Miranda Priestly. She is very cruel editor in chief. Her former assistant couldn’t endure her hard work and was fired. Andy confuses about her cruel boss. But the stylist Nigel helps her a lot. Thanks for his help Andrea changes not only her appearance but also her attitude. She change from simple style into a more fashionable and elegant style. This change is good for her job, however, affects the relationship with her boyfriend Nate, friend and family.

-My comments
It’s the first time for me to watch this movie. I like it so much!!
Andy doesn’t give up about her boss’ cruel demand. I think Andy is very lucky because she is helped by her coworker. Without Nigel’s help, she couldn’t endure her hard work. After I watch it, I think I want to watch it again.I bought DVD!
I didn’t know Anne Hathaway until I’ve watched it. But I think she is very good actress! She is in The Princess Diaries (I wrote about it on this blog.), Get Smart (I’ll write about it on my blog.), Rachel Getting Married, Bride Wars, Alice in Wonderland. I’ve watched these movies (except Alice in Wonderland) on WOWOW. Thank you, my friend WOWOW! XD

50 First Dates

50 First Dates / 2004 / 99 minutes



-Main cast
Adam Sandler as Henry Roth
Drew Barrymore as Lucy Whitmore

-Plot
Henry Roth is a veterinarian in Hawaii. One day, he meets Lucy Whitmore who is an art teacher in the café. They have great time and promise meet the next morning in the café. The next day, Henry speaks to Lucy, but she says she doesn’t know him. He feels awkward. The café owner explains Lucy. She suffers from amnesia because of an accident. She can’t convert short term memories into long-term memories. So she doesn’t have memory between the day of the accident and the present. For her, everyday is October 13, 2002, it’s day of accident and also her father’s birthday. Her farther Marlin and brother Doug act the activities of October 13, 2002 every day.
So Henry meets her everyday and speaks to her. Lucy’s family and Henry think they can’t tell a lie to her forever. They decide to tell the truth to her.

-My comments
I don’t like love story movies and I don’t watch it much, but I like it so much!! It’s a romantic comedy. I don’t like some parts of comedy in this movie, but it makes me feel good after I watch it.
Her amnesia is so sad. The scene Lucy realizes she suffers from amnesia is sooooo sad! I can’t stop crying. I’m sure this scene makes you cry so easily. This movie is not too long, so you can enjoy it a lot. I bought DVD. :D
If you have boy/girlfriend, I recommend you to watch it with him/her. Unfortunately I can't! haha :P

17again

17again / 2009 / 105 minutes



-Main cast
Zac Efron as Mike O’Dnell (17 years old)
Matthew Perry as Mike O’Dnell (37 years old)
Thomas Lennon as Ned Gold
Michelle Trachtenberg as Maggie O’Dnell

-Plot
Mike O’Dnell is top basketball player at the Hayden High School. He may win a scholarship. However, his girlfriend Scarlet tells him about her pregnancy before the starting of the final game which college scouts check him out. After he heard about it, he decides not to play the game, but to marry her.
20 years later, Mike is 37 years old. He always complains to his wife that he lost his big chance because of their marriage. His wife Scarlet decided to divorce him, and he lost not only his home but also his whole family. So he stays at his friend Ned’s house. At that time, he is unfortunately fired! He feels so sad, and he remembers his high school days. He visits the Hayden High School. At there the janitor speaks to him and asks if he wants to get back to days of 17 years old. And he says “YES”.
One night while driving, Mike sees the janitor jump into the river from the bridge. He tries to help him and jump into river. Finally he can’t find him, but he is covered with mud. Then, he goes back to Ned’s home. During taking shower, he looks the mirror and discovers he is 17 again!! He decides to take a big chance again for getting back the life he lost.

-My comments
I don’t know about this movie at all. And I’m not a fan of Zac Efron. But I really like it! It’s funny that Mike (17 years old) talks with his friend (actually, they are his son and daughter!). Mike goes back to the past for getting big chance again. However, thanks to getting back to 17, he fixes his relationship with his family. I especially like the last scene. This movie is funny and heartwarming one.
If you are a big fan of Zac Efron, you’ll like this movie very much!! Even if you are not a fan of him like me, you’ll like this story.

The Princess Diaries

The Princess Diaries / 2001 / 115 minutes



-Main cast
Julie Andrews as Queen Clarisse Renaldi
Anne Hathaway as Mia Thermopolis
Sandra Oh as Vice Principal Gupta
Hector Elizondo as Joe

-Plot
Mia is awkward but cheerful 15-year-old girl. She is brought up by her single mother. She has spent time as ordinary teenager until she finds out that she is the princess of Genovia which is small European country (actually, Genovia is fictional country). She cannot believe she is princess, but she is heard her dead father who she has never met was the crown prince of Genovia.
Her grandmother insists that Mia takes training for being the princess. She have to decide a choice of remaining being high school student or succeeding the throne.

-My comments
Because I love Anne Hathaway, I choose this movie. It’s a one of best Disney movie for me. Mia is so cheerful girl and makes others around her happy. And I like specially friendship between Mia and Lilly.
This movie is based the novel whose title of the first volume published in 2000. But it is different from the movie. So I want to try it.
I watched also “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement”. Its ending isn’t same as I thought, but I like it so much!! If you like the first Princess Diaries, you will like it.



And Chris Pine is appearing in this movie. I didn’t know about him before I watched it, but “Chris Pine as Nicholas” is very cool and handsome!

Enchanted

Enchanted / 2007 / 107 minutes



-Main cast
Amy Adams as Giselle
Patrick Dempsey as Robert Philip
James Marsden as Prince Edward
Rachel Covey as Morgan Philip
Susan Sarandon as Queen Narissa

-Plot for Enchanted
Once a upon a time in the animated fairytale world of Andalsia Giselle who is a beautiful young girl lives in a lodge in the forest. She waits for a prince to come. Prince Edward who listens to her singing comes to her. They instantly fall in love and promise to be married the next day. But, before the start of wedding, evil queen Narissa sends Giselle to non-animated world where is Manhattan in New York City., because Narissa who is Edward’s stepmother doesn’t agree their marriage.
At first, Giselle doesn’t understand her new environment. She isn’t regarded as a princess because people in Manhattan don’t believe she is a princess. However, she meets Morgan Phillip who is 6 years old, likes fairytales and believes Giselle is a princess. Morgan and her father Robert who is cynical divorce lawyer help Giselle.
At the same time, Prince Edward comes to the non-animated world to help Giselle.
Can Giselle survive in New York City? Can she find true love?

-My comments
This is musical movie! I love it! Songs in this movie is enjoyable. I want to get sound track CD.
Character which I like most in this movie is Giselle. She is kind, cheerful and cute! She is good at sewing. She makes her dress herself. She is good at also singing. Her song is so nice. I wanna be like her.
And James Marsden (Edward) I so handsome isn’t it?! He appears on HAIRSPRAY as Corny.

Hula Girls

Hula Girls / 2006 / 120minutes



-Main cast
Yasuko Matsuyuki as Madoka Hirayama
Etsushi Toyokawa as Youjiro Tanikawa
Yu Aoi as Kimiko Tanikawa
Shizuyo Yamazaki as Sayuri Kumano
Ittoku Kishibe as Norio Yoshimoto
Sumiko Fuji as Chiyo Tanikawa

-Plot for Hula Girls
In 1965, coal mining town of Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture was in trouble. The mining company has to fire 2000 people because of closing of a coal mine. Instead of that, the mining company plans to build the Hawaiian Center to provide employment. And they need dancer for Hula. But this idea is objected by the community.
However, a few girls are showing up for first lesson. They learn dancing called Hula. And soon others join dance lessons. Their teacher Madoka who is a professional dancer in Tokyo is very strict teacher. She trains them as professional dancers.
One day, Kimiko's mother, Chiyo noticed that kimiko skip classes to attend dance lesson. Chiyo is very angry with her and Kimiko runs away from home...

-My comments
There are several scenes that I can't stop my tears. The following is the scenes I especially like.
1. Madoka hugs Sanae so tightly when Sanae says good bye.
Madoka coaches hula girls strictly. But, this scene show audience Madoka's love for hula girls.
2. Sayuri says "Please let me dance." even though her father died in the accident.
Sayuri's grief is unimaginable for me. But Sayuri want to dance hula for her father. I guess it is difficult for Sayuri to endure her sorrow…
3. Hula girls convey message to Madoka by hula.
This scene is my favorite one. Hula girls dance hula for Madoka. Every hula move has a meaning behind it. Their hula's meaning is "Brush the tears from your eye…I love you…to you sweetheart." This message is incredibly nice, isn't it?!

When I watch these scenes, I always cry! And I like Shizuyo Yamazaki's performance so much. She is a comedian! She is not actress! But, her performance is extremely good. I forget she is a comedian.

In this blog, I always introduce English movie. But today is a special. The reason why I introduce Japanese movie is this one is my mom's favorite one, and I also think it's so nice. I really want you to watch it! I always watch it with Japanese subtitle, which is good for me. I think you should do so. If you want to watch it, ask me please. I can lend you DVD!

Thank you so much for your comments, Baseball freak and nagisa!

Hardball

Hardball / 2001 / 106minutes



-Main cast
Keanu Reeves as Conor O'Neil
Diane Lane as Elizabeth Wilkes
D. B. Sweeney as Matt Hyland
John Hawkes as Ticky Tobin
Bryan C. Hearne as Andre Ray Peetes
Julian Griffith as Jefferson Albert Tibbs
Michael Jordan as Jamal
A. Delon Ellis Jr. as Miles Pennfield II
Kristopher Lofton as Clarence
Michael Perkins as Kofi Evans
Brian M. Reed as Raymond 'Ray Ray' bennet
DeWayne Warren as Jarius 'G-Baby' Evans

-Plot for Hardball
Conor O'Neil is uncontrollable gambler and heavily in debt. In order to repay the debt, he starts a job. It's coaching a little league baseball team in Chicago. At first, he takes no interest in the team. He had decided that he would leave the team as soon as he repaid his debts. However, he gains their respect and connects with them and realizes that it's hard to leave the team than he thought. And pretty soon, they're winning games! But, sad accident happens…

-My comments
Because I like Keanu and I love baseball, I chosen this movie. This movie is based on the non-fiction story "Hardball: A season in the projects" by Daniel Coyle.
The scene kids watch the professional baseball game with Conor at ballpark is my favorite one. Kids seems quite happy, because they have never watched professional baseball game at ballpark before that time. The scene of Conor's message for G-Baby (actually, he is…oh, I can't say that because it's spoiler!) is nice. I can't stop crying! And last scene is also good.
If you like baseball or Keanu, you should watch it!

Thank you for your comments, Mikako,Nagisa,and IES5 students!
If you know movies you recommend, teach me please!

Edward Scissorhands

Edward Scissorhands / 1990 / 105min



-Main cast
Johnny Depp as Edward
Winona Ryder as Kim
Dianne Wiest as Peg

-Plot for Edward Scissorhands
Inventor died before his invention is complete. He created man who called Edward. He doesn't have his hands. Instead, he has scissors as his hands. He lives in a castle on the top of hill alone.
One day, Pegg Bogs who is saleswoman calls at the castle. When she discovers him, she is surprised. But she realizes Edward is always alone and welcomes him into her home.
Because of his scissors, he has a lot of trouble in his life. But Pegg helps him. Soon, his talent for cutting hair and hedges is discovered. He makes favorable for impression on people.
But, things don't always get along…

-My comments
I didn't know anything about this movie. My friend recommended me watching it.
Thanks to his scissor hands, he becomes to be able to cut hair and hedges and he receive a favorable review. But, because of scissorhands, Edward can't even hug Kim who he loves tight…It's so sad. This movie isn't happy ending but sad ending. But I like it. The last scene is very beautiful.
I became to like Johnny Depp! His performance as Edward was perfect!

School of Rock

School of Rock / 2003 / 108minutes



-Main cast
Jack black as Dewey Finn
Joan Cusack as Rosalie “Roz” Mullins
Mike White as Ned Schneebly
Joey Gaydos Jr., Miranda Cosgrove, Rebecca Julia Brown, Kevin Clark, Robert Tsai, Maryam Hassan, Caitlin Hale, Aleisha Allen, Brian Falduto, Zachary Infante, James Hosey, Angelo Massagli, Coke Hawkins, Veronica Afflerbach and Jordan-Claire Green as students

-Plot for School of Rock
Dewey Finn get fired from his band. And he does not any job. He need money because he must pay for his rent and debt. One day, he gets job. Actually, it’s not his job, but Ned’s job. He is substitute teacher. Dewey pretends to be Ned, and he starts job as a teacher at conservative private school. Of course, he can’t teach math, science and French etc. When he saw his students’ music class, he comes up with a good idea. He decide to form a rock-and-roll band with his students. At first, students are not interested in rock-and-roll, but they become to be absorbed in rock-and-roll music. They start practice for competition. This plan is secret for their principal and their parent. But, everything isn’t getting along…

-My comments
It’s a first time I watch this movie, but I really like it!
Before competition starts, students present Dewey dress which they made for him. This is the second best scene for me. Of course, best scene is the climax of this movie. Dewey and his students play rock! Seeing this scene, I can’t keep back my tears. And, students are so cute. Music in this movie is soooooooo wonderful! I want to buy soundtrack CD. But I don't have enough money...

Léon : The professional

Léon : The professional / 1994 / 110 minutes




-Main cast
Jean Reno as Léon
Gary Oldman as Stansfield
Natalie Portman as Mathilda

-Plot for Léon
Mathilda, a 12 years old girl, spends an distasteful lifetime. One day when she go to shopping, Stanfield who is two-faced evil police killed her family. She does not love her family at all expect her brother. She has no home and asks Léon for help.
Léon is professional cleaner that means killer. He does not have family and friend. Léon confuses Mathilda’s help, but they lives together. To avenge brother’s death on Stansfield, Mathilda learn cleaner skills from Léon. Through life with Mathilda, Léon gradually discovers his abilities to fell and love. When Mathilda goes to Stanfield for revenge and is captured by him, Léon comes and saves her. It’s the climax of this movie.

-My comments
This movie is the second best movie for me. (Of course, the best movie is HAIRSPRAY!)
Relationship between Léon and Mathilda is neither family nor love. But they absolute trust in each other. I can’t watch this movie without crying. If you haven’t watched this movie yet, you should watch it! I can lent you DVD.

The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz / 1939 / 101minutes




-Main cast
Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale
Frank Morgan as The Wizard / Professor Marvel
Ray Bolger as Hunk / The scarecrow
Bert Lahr as Zeke / The cowardly lion
Jack Hakey as Hickory / the tin man
Billie Burke as Glinda the good witch of the north
Margaret Hamilton as Miss Almira Gulch / The wicked witch of the west

-Plot for The Wizard of Oz
This film is based on the popular novel around the world, “The Wizard of Oz” written by L.Frank Baum.
Dorothy lives in a farm in Kansas. One day, a cyclone arrives and picks her house with her and her dog Toto up. And it deposits them in the land of Oz. To get back to Kansas, she starts to the journey to the Emerald City where a Wizard of Oz lives. On her way to there, she meets a scarecrow who wants a brain, a tin man who wants a heart, and a cowardly lion who wants courage.

-My comments
I think this is shorter than novel. But I enjoy it. Oz people are very small. Their welcoming song is cute. On her way to Emerald City, Dorothy and her companies song a song. I love musical movie. And it is interesting that some actor of this movie have double role.
One of the lines of this movie, ”a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others” rang in my heart…

HAIRSPRAY

HAIRSPRAY / 2007 / 116minutes



-Main cast
Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad
John Travolta as Edna Turnblad
Michelle Preiffer as Velma Von Tussle
Christopher Walken as Wilbur Turnblad
Amanda Bynes as Penny Pingletton
James Marsden as Corny Collins
Queen Latifah as Motormouth Maybelle
Brittany Snow as Amber Von Tussle
Zac Efron as Link Larkin
Elijah Kelly as Seaweed J. Stubbs

-Plot for HAIRSPRAY
Tracy, an overweight girl, is addicted to the Corny Collins Show. She drools over Link who is the star in the show. One day the chance to dance in the show comes, and Tracy wins. But Amber and her mother Velma isn’t glad at it. They plan to destroy Tracy, but it was useless. Tracy thinks it’s not fair that the black kids can only dance once a month in the show. She confronts this problem who her friends and Motormouth Maybelle.

-My comments
I’m a big fan of this movie. I’ve watched it ten times at least. I love songs in this movie. Listening and singing these songs make me happy. This movie seems to be just happy movie on surface, but it covers black and white issue.
There is my favorite word in the song, "YOU CAN’T STOP THE BEAT”.
"You can’t stop today
As it comes speeding around the track
Yesterday is history
And it’s never coming back! Look ahead, cause…
Tomorrow is a brand new day,
And it don’t know white from black”

The purpose of this blog

Hi!
The purpose of this blog is to write my movie review. I want you to know my idea about movie and foreign country's culture.
This blog's title is "EIGA life".EIGA is japanese. It means "movie".
Every week, I'll write here about movie that I watched.