Assassination Classroom(暗殺教室) 1 & 2 Japanese Films Thoughts

  Assassination Classroom is a manga created by Matsui Yusei that has over a million copies in print as of 2015. The series spawned a video game and two live action films that took number one spot in both it's opening week. I believe that this was thanks to the series popularity and the cast of actors and actresses involved. Directed by Hasumi Eiichiro (Mozu), The cast includes pop idol boyband Hey!Say!Jump! member, Yamada Ryosuke, Suda Masaki, Yamamoto Maikia, Yuki Mio, and special appearances by Kazunari Ninomiya, and Narimiya Hiroki. Nino did the voice for Koro sensei in both films while appearing in the second.

  Students that are put into Class E are considered students that will never amount to anything. One day, an Alien appears in front of the class and tells them that they have until March to kill him or he would destroy the earth. He had already blew up half of the moon and give the students the task to stop him from doing the same to the earth.

  The live action version wastes not time with setting the ground up for the world of Assassination Classroom. Certain character introductions that take a few episodes or more to introduce them in the anime do it in a matter of a scene. We all know there's not much time to waste but this film does it in a way that's fines doesn't take away from the quality of the plot. It feels like its suppose to be that way. Characters fall right into place with the progression of the plot with it feeling rushed or pushed forward. Part one sets up the world of students that just so happen to have to kill their alien teacher. Assassination Classroom: Graduation focuses more on Koro sensei's background and the characters that weren't fully introduced in part one. Even though a title like Assassination Classroom warns a dark subject matter like murder or killing, the student's involvement with Koro sensei borderline lighthearted goodness that people of all ages can enjoy. That might be one of the biggest charms of the Assassination Classroom films. They are trying to kill but have a hard time doing so. Then they end up learning more about themselves in the process. Action sequences are not to be lost in the sappy good moments either. These effects might be some of the best special effects I've seen in a live action manga adaption since films like Death note. Especially the effects used to bring Koro sensei to life. His mere presence makes like a mascot for the students who have never been encouraged before.

  Nino gets a standing ovation from me for this film. He came in and jumped right into the role as Koro sensei. I made sure to pay very close attention to his voice acting and during each scene he sounded less and less like Nino and more and more like Koro sensei. The fast way of talking and THAT laugh..... The famous laugh that mocks everyone who hears it. I also have to give props to the actors and actresses who played the students else like Yamada. They had to act with whatever was used a stand in for Koro sensei and those action stuns must have gave them more than a few bruises.(The stuns they actually did anyway.) The characters closely follow the traits of the manga without making the transition to live action strange. Blond hair female assassins transition smoothly to the Japanese only cast. She clearly was foreign in the manga but she's an seductive english speaking Japanese women in the live action version. A colorful cast of villains come along to match the colorful cast of good characters. At firsts I couldn't see why there was two movies but too many characters and so little time. Its still works and the actress fits the character. Each and every person in this film feeds off of each other to bring the best performance that they could to bring justice to this wonderful series. I had a connection with Koro sensei too because of the fun personality he had during the film.  I didn't know if I wanted him dead or alive. My head hurts now...

  There wasn't many shots of different locations. The old school house and the area around it is all you get to see for the first part. Unless you want to count the scenes of Koro Sensei flying around the world at inhuman speeds. Nice to look at the final product but that was a green screen before the producers got to it. Their school house look like a shack that you would find on the country side. Its made of wood and looks like a big gust of wind might knock it down at some point. I'm not sure why the live action version of Corpse Party didn't use a school house that looked like that..... Anyway, the school fits right into the story. Assassination Classroom: Graduation shows some of the students walking down the street in residential neighborhoods and scenes of research labs. The camera sometimes can to seen moving from one side to the other slowly to capture gliding focus on an actor/actress during dialogue. You don't need a lot of different location shots to create a good film.

  Assassination Classroom wasn't a manga that I warmed up to right away. I watched the first season of the anime and loved it but didn't know how I felt about watching the live action films. What really made me want to watch was Kazunari Ninomiya. The experience of both films was a pleasant surprise for me. I throughly enjoyed everything and these are a films that deserves to be on the list of live action films from manga done right.  

The Guest(不速之客) Chinese Film Thoughts

  I ordered this film purely based on the fact that I wanted to watch more native Chinese films this year and the film's trailer looked promising.  The Guest was directed by Im Dae Woong and has a cast of Leon Lai and Geng Le.

  A taxi driver helps a drunk man get home and they start to see each other often. Soon murders start happening around the man and his girlfriend. The taxi driver then arrives at their apartment door to make his way in......

  I thought the plot was going to be deeper than it turned out to be. The beginning of the film opens well to introduce a complexed character that viewers want to know more about. Then we're introduced to a man and his girlfriend who are renting out an apartment that still feels creepy even though it was remodeled. The apartment is creepy and so are the people who live next door. The fashion in which all this qualities of the plot are introduced makes you think that they have a connection to each other and the mysterious character. I got out my mental marker and was ready to connect the dots. Things move on and get more intense but all the dots that this film's plot creates are never connected. Films about psycho murderers breaking into other people's homes have been done before so take the concept and add a new twist to it. The question of why was answered in a satisfactory way but all the other lose ends are kicked under the rug. A better reason for the creation of the killer and the killings could have been penned for this script. Instead we get a more mediocre solution. The ending was even more pathetic. I hate ending where text is put on a black screen to explain to the audience what happened. Leave this method for historical films or ones that go toward that kind of feel.

  Leon Lai and Geng Le's scenes together are the saving grace of The Guest. Their chemistry was perfect for the plot line and the set up of this film. I actually didn't want their scenes together to end because it was the most interesting thing about this film. Even more interesting than the killings.

  I liked observing the shots here. Especially the landscape ones. That fast forward effect editors do on a scene that they film all day till the sun goes down then they take the footage and fast forward it. You see the events of the day in a matter of a few seconds. Cars moving along with people and the sun going down in the sky.

  Since The Guest had too many plot issues with introducing things that didn't help support the full picture, I felt like I wasted my money buying this on DVD. Leon Lai's other film, The Secret is a much better film. There's a post I wrote about this film on here to if you want to check it out.

 

Kenji Wu(吳克群) - HUMOROUS LIFE(人生超幽默) Album Thoughts(Mandopop)

Track
01. 孤獨是會上癮的                       
02. 失
03. 人生超幽默 吳克群;莫安琪
04. 鬼來電
05. 我不要再比了
06. 山東丫頭
07. 奇怪的你
08. 窮得只剩音樂
09. 失聲
10. 拔蘿蔔 - 吳克群;蔡順鵬
 
  I finally got the chance to listen to this album. Sorry, but I have this feeling that many of my posts start with the word "finally". You guys might not understand. When I want to watch or listen to some thing and I can't, my heart gets shifty. So when I at last get the chance to do what I've been waiting to do, the only word I can think of to best describe my feelings is finally.  Alright, Now after that long not asked for explanation, Mandopop singer, Kenji Wu's album was the hardest album for me to get my hands on. I don't know why but the album was not available for me to listen to. I search around and around and before I knew it, the new year had come in. Then just yesterday, I got my hands on a digital copy of Humorous Life.

  I'm always a little weary of Kenji Wu's albums because they either sink or float just above the surface. Not one of his full length albums has contained a full track list of songs that hooked me enough to say I loved that album. Instead he nails the nail on the head for his title tracks then leaves the rest of the album to fall flat and hit that hard pavement. Sadly but truly, Humorous Life continues this tradition. Yeah, thats sad when we get to the point that this is a tradition to me. Wu open the albums with some boring ballads that's biggest source of problem is the choruses don't build up to a greater vocal development. They just drag on and add nothing to the song. You have a handsome face but I'm tired of hearing you sing the same kinds of ballads over and over again. He does try to improve with a little hint of falsetto in of of the tracks later on in the album but why should I have to wait through seven songs to get to this hidden gem. The track by the same name as the album brings a sense of life back to this album while reminding us that this man does have a talented spark in his body. Jazz and soul are the theme here and the style of the song has a hint of attitude that will perk up listeners ears quite a bit. Not to mention this is a duet. I was surprised at the rapping going back and forth between both singers. It added a sassy flavor. Another creative element abut this album is Wu gets creative toward closing tracks by mixing qualities of pop and traditional Chinese music together for a tap your foot mid tempo number. I was happy to come up on this song too because I didn't want to leave his album only liking the title track. Things close out for Humorous life with an acoustic guitar ballad along with another singer joining the fun. At least Kenji Wu tries to change his musical direction with each album but he's one of the artists that doesn't need to. He fits perfectly in the pop rock genre.

  I can't say that Kenji Wu can't sing well but sometimes, I get the idea that he depends more on his physical appearance to see albums than his talent. He's a good looking and hard working guy but he hasn't come out with a solid album in a long time. I also notice he models a lot and does other jobs. Maybe if he spent more time just sitting down and focusing on his musical craft, he could produce that album that would blow me out of the water. i'm sad to hear that he over worked himself so much last year that he lost hearing in his ear. Overworking yourself is never the right thing to do. I would rather him leave the spotlight for awhile to rest and work on his music than to be in the spotlight damaging his body. Get well and stay rested, ok?


  Humorous Life has about four or three good songs in it. I wish whatever drive he used to make this good tracks could be used at a hundred percent for all his tracks. I'm an on and off fan of his but he isn't my favorite mandopop singer or anything.

The Priests(검은 사제들) Korean Film Thoughts

  I'm just finally getting to see this film now and it originally was released in 2015. I had constantly seen the film's poster pop up around the internet and the concept is somewhat quite new to Korean audiences. Not saying there hasn't been films about exorcisms before but this was a whole new level of detail. The Priests was directed by Jang Jae hyun as his first full length feature film. He did mostly short films before now but I guess he can look forward to doing more full length films in the future. The was a hit entering at number two in the Korean box-office with more than 5.4 million tickets sold in it's opening week. Actors Kim Yoon Seok and Gang Dong Won are casted as the two Priests who must work together to solve a life threatening demonic possession case.

 A very unlikely young Priest is chosen to aid another Priest in the case of a girl who could have been possessed or molested......

  Both Kim and Gang are great actors that ride off of each other's energy even before they meet. Gang's character is that underdog Priest who does everything other than the duties he is suppose to be doing. He seems to be a Priest just because there was nothing else better to do. Of course, most characters who doing try too hard have their reasons for doing so. I never believe people are just lazy to be lazy. Gang's character is a more advanced Priest who is dealing with a Possession case that hits very close to home for him. His character needs another set of hands to help him out because things have been ugly with this case. I love the ability of these two to switch between a hint of seriousness and then indulge in slapstick humor always makes me proud. Kim can be funny without breaking a sweat. The guy doesn't even smile most of the time he makes people laugh but can be stone faced while delivering a joke's punchline. Gang on the other hand, embodies goofy from head to toe. You can see it on his face and in his body language. It also doesn't help that his character is an outlaw anyway. During the dark serious parts, they get into positions for the ride. A lesson of trust and the willingness to move forward by not making the same mistake constantly. Their performances made me think of a guy and his kid brother that had to step up to the plate. We also need to give a hand to everyone who learned Latin, Italian, and Greek for the film. Park So Dam spoke about six languages in her scene alone. She deserved the award she received for this film.

  This is another great film to look at if you want to experience some sights of Seoul, South Korea. The camera man does a great job of shooting the back streets and the main businesses along certain districts. I also felt like a was looking into a world that wasn't mine to see every time demons or the Priests would show up. This had a lot to do with the location and artistry of the shots. The style ranges from a lot of far out shots that show all of Seoul city(mostly during the night) or overhead view shots that give a new perspective on the action. In these specific shots, you see the actors from over head so much to the point that the alleyways like like a dollhouse and you as the viewer are looking inside from above. I can't forget the famous scenes of both of them standing in a narrow alley that appears to be like the line between the world that everyone else knows and the world that only a Priest can enter. The smoggy smoke effects are a nice addition to the dark atmosphere as well. Everything takes place in such a dark atmosphere that you feel relief when a scene filmed during the day shows up on screen.

  I'm not sure why I thought that this film would deal with multiple cases of demonic possession instead of one big case. I started to realize as I watched that the film was setting everything up for that big final conclusion and was a little disappointed. A good chunk of the plot is spent one character development but its not wasted time. The plot makes in enjoyable and things like the opening sequence reminds you that something is amiss so you don't forget the real reason your watching all this to begin with.  Once you get to the central conflict, your eyes are glued to the screen. Many of you might know of other films such as the Exorcism so the stuff you see in The Priest won't shock you too much. What I will say though is that the acting is still disturbing no matter how many times you see it. My biggest issue here was that they film felt to short like something was missing when the credits started rolling. It wasn't so much that they film didn't end well because it did but more cases of the two character's working together could have been added before the big finale. Just one big case of a girl being possessed make me think, "THATS IT?" when it was all over and done with. At least the plot did decent prolonging the conflict for as long as it could.

  Honestly, I watched The Priests because Gang Dong Won was staring in it. The plot looked good too but I'm not big on exorcism films unless I'm going to see its as a night out with friends of family.  I walked away feeling alright about what I saw but a film thats based on a short film can only be expanded so much before you have to make huge changes. The Priest was good for what it was but not the best in terms of an all around solid storyline.

 

Vromance (브로맨스) - ROMANCE Mini Album Thoughts(K-pop)

Track List:
01. I`m Fine
02. 삼년째 백수
03. 헤어지지 말자
04. 예뻐서 고마워
05. 어장관리

   Give me a little applause everyone. I lasted to the second mini album of a Kpop act from the new generation. This normally doesn't happen but Vromance has kept me interested long enough for another release to come out. Ironically, the album's name is simply romance. Didn't have to think to hard for this title.... Only thing they had to do was take away the V from the band's name. Good one guys.

  The greatest quality about Vromance's music can possibly be that they try to do much that highlights their vocal ranges and caters to more than one dynamic of people. Kpop is known to be more popular with younger people in Korea and older people don't like it or don't care to like it. Vromance seems to rather be known as a group that sings songs that touches the hearts of women of all ages. Not just teenage girls who attend Mnet Countdown. Their lyrics make a big stress on making the opposite sex  feel like they are being serenaded with the up most care. Its not in a cheesy manner but has a enough softness to be called Kpop. Tracks are more Jazz and soul based besides the ballads. I'm Fine might be one of the best ballads I've heard from a Kpop band in years. The track is sentimental, yet classy and catchy. They used the right amount of English phrasing and the melody added to it creates one fun sequence to sing along with. I don't know if 삼년째 백수 or I'm Fine is suppose to be the title track but if 삼년째 백수 is a title track then these boys improved. This track is just too cool for school. I love the feel it gives off like you can groovy with the beat freely. They don't stop here either. Instead the music gets more slick and solid for listeners with tracks like 예뻐서 고마워 that will sooth all into tuning into their vocals even if your not a female. We should call them Kpop for mature audiences. Not everyone will like them because their not dying their hair, doing fan service, or showing their abs like other Kpop bands. Its all about that talent and less about the visual gimmicks. Don't misinterpret me though. I like to see some abs too..... sometimes...... 

  These boys still can sing. I think I raved about their voices in the first post I wrote. Romance just brings us more interesting songs to dive into. Everything seems to have come together for them. Those jitters they had from being a new group have been shook off and the real smooth talkers have come out. I actually enjoyed listening to the vocals on this album more than I did their debut album. One big reason is because the harmonies have combined to seem more like one unit. Let me tell you, when those voices come together, its like you can hear female's panties falling on the floor. The quality of their harmony could raise the temperature hot enough to melt an ice block. Thank God for Koreans who can sing soul music well. 

  I would only throw out one track but other than that, Romance is a good sophomore  release. I still haven't listened to their female counterpart, Mamamoo. Hopefully A day will come when I have the energy to. 

   

ONE OK ROCK - Ambitions Album Thoughts(J-Rock)

 

Japanese ver.

Ambitions -Introduction-
Bombs away
Taking Off
We are
20/20
Always coming back
Bedroom Warfare
Lost in Tonight
I was King
Listen (featuring Avril Lavigne)
One Way Ticket
Bon Voyage
Start Again
Take what you want (featuring 5 Seconds of Summer)

International ver.

Ambitions -Introduction-
Bombs away
Taking Off
We are
Jaded (featuring Alex Gaskarth)
Hard to Love
Bedroom Warfare
American Girls
I was King
Listen
One Way Ticket
Bon Voyage
Start Again
Take what you want (featuring 5 Seconds of Summer)

  ONE OK ROCK has been my number one favorite Japanese band since 2008 when they debuted. Yes, I've been a fan of these boys from day one all the way up to the present. Keep It Real was their very single that made me think, "This band is going to be huge.". Sure enough, They are now holding down a fanbase that includes people from all over the world. Most of East Asian Pop need to be thanking youtube all day and night for helping to expose foreigners to a bigger range of their music. I didn't think that ONE OK ROCK would go on constant sold out American tours or sign a record deal with Fueled by Ramen but someone is aiming high. Their newest album, Ambitions was released in two versions, The English and Japanese version. Both albums have a difference in tracklist depending on what version you get.

  Fans have been very divided when it comes to the bands recent style choices. Some fans like their new style while other feel that they are selling out to a more poppy sound. I'm a ride or die fan and I will say that ONE OK ROCK has always had a poppy side to their music. It might be that some people who are complaining have only listened to a select few songs. What I've noticed most about the newest releases are that they're more American influenced. This influenced was always somewhere deep in their music but as Taka's English continued to improve and more American producers began to take part in their production process, The American influence has overthrown their Japanese flavor. Not that this is a bad thing to me. Just don't get so cheesy with your artistry that your music sounds like something I would hear on High School musical. One OK Rock hasn't gotten that bad yet as this album has its ups and downs. Some of the best tracks on the album such as I Was King, Bombs Away, and Start Again, keep a fragment of the old familiar ONE OK ROCK burning bright and true. These tracks utilize their lyrical craft and the harmonized relationship between the instrumental music mixed with Taka's vocals. On the other hand, tracks like Bedroom Warfare sound nothing like a song that Taka would write. I'm not saying he didn't but someone was definitely looking over his shoulder to tweak a few lines. A few other tracks sound like they were copy and pasted from other bands like Fall Out Boy but at least they take these tracks and make them their own as much as possible. It was a little frustrating listening to the tracks that were clearly sell out tracks to get a bigger following. A moment ago I heard a ONE OK ROCK that I recognized then a pop electronic band with smartly produced keyboard arrangements. I feel the production of Ambitions is top notch but a majority of the songs don't fit my taste. The collaboration with Avril Lavigne was a nice addition. She seemed like she wanted to run away with the song vocally at some points against Taka's wishes. He held his own though.


   Taka is still one of the best frontmen that has led a band in this day and age. He can make his voice change to different dynamics. Screamo Taka comes on when he gets very emotional. Taka's soft vocals are his normal vocals that are so nice to listen to. He's come a long way and still has a way to go. With such a talented group of guys backing him up, How can he not be amazing? "Backing him up feels wrong to say when referring to these guys. Taka, Ryota, Tomo, and Toru are a family... Ok. With such a talented group of guys with him, how can Taka not be amazing? Better! right?

  New album comes with ONE OK ROCK opening a new chapter in their music. I respect that even if I'm outgrowing them a little bit. You will never see me completely stop listening to them.

UPDATE: I just saw that they got number one on the Oricon charts! CONGRATS BOYS!!!!!! FIRST NUMBER ONE ALBUM!!!!!

Sadako vs. Kayako(貞子 vs. 伽椰子) Japanese Film Thoughts

   I waited for the chance to view this film and today that chance came. When Sadako vs. Kayako's movie poster was first released, I didn't have any thoughts. I wasn't upset or happy. Its kind of like those complimentary glasses of water that you get in restaurants you didn't ask for but comes with the service. The film is the twelfth installment in both series and is directed by Shiraishi Koji. A cast of cute actresses, Yamamoto Mizuki and Tamashiro Tina also take the role of victims in this installment. Sadako and Kayako come from two different stories. One called the Grudge or Ju-on(Kayako) and the other called The Ring(Sadako). Both stories have seen several reboots over the years due to the high popularity of the originals. America has also done their own spin on the two tales with The Ring getting a brand new film released soon.

  Both deadly violent ghost, Sadako and Kayako face off against each other due to their curses overlapping on the same girls. Two friends and a high school girl get pulled into the battle.

   I didn't expect much at the start of watching Sadako vs Kayako but it turned out to be just another installment to both series. Everything starts off with the characters putting themselves in situations that could have been easily avoided. People never think about things until after the fact. All the warning signs are there but you decide to ignore them just because. What was even funnier, was how they took a class about hauntings and curses but couldn't see that they were heading right smack into one themselves. The plot takes more of the style of The Grudge's presentation but without introducing each character's name everytime its their storyline. Besides the two friends, Sadako vs. Kayako also plays out through the eyes of a high school girl who moved next door to the high that Kayako was murdered in.( See the original Ju-on for the full story. I'm not going into detail here.) The warning signs are there once again to tell people to stay away from this house but people do not. Once you go into the house, you will be cursed by Kayako and her son until they finally kill you. Sadako killings have to do with viewing her though a VCR tape. We don't have too worry much about her in this day and age. None uses VRCs anymore unless your collecting them as a hobby. The plot makes up a pretty valid excuse for Sadako's curse to be unleashed and its not a fun sight. Her curse run rapid through most of the duration of the film and it makes you wonder who's film is this really? Seems kind of like Sadako steals the spotlight while Kayako waits in her moldy house. Kayako does do her share of killing though which always freaked me out like no other. Just the way she moves with that freaky sounding noise she makes. I'm shivering. A big trait that I really loved about this film was that a character was put in that seemed like he knows how to hold his own against both ghosts. This character is played by veteran actor Masanobu Ando and he kicks ass to turn the tides more in humanity's favor. However, never get too cocky when dealing with the supernatural. These types of films never end well and if you have seen other installments of either one of these series, you know the endings are always like a punch to the gut. At least the acting was good enough to give a little bit of hope to viewers.

   Its never too hard to act out these kind of films with a little bit of before hand coaching. Ando did well because his character isn't challenging. Nor did characters have a deep background or relate-ability to make you feel anything for them. I give props to all the actresses and young child actors who played Sadako, Kayako, and her son. They have to be on set, get their makeup done that probably takes hours, then they shoot with little to no clothes on. Sadako wears a dress but that long black wig must have been anoying. Kayako character has a weird way of walking when she not crawling that has to do with the way she was murdered. Only the original actress who played Kayako could do it right. Same with the child actor who played her son. The little actor used this time around creeped me out more than the original. It was more to do with his make up than the acting aspect but the surprise pop ups got me a few times too.

  Shooting for the film still brings back that dark atmosphere feel. Even the day time shots are not protected from the dark spots where Kayako house resides. The shots also like kind of misty to me. Maybe its my imagination but certain scenes seems layered in a thick fog. We are watching a horror film here so the less light, the better. Tokyo sights are limited to a neighborhood with a narrow street, dorm rooms, and school life. Thats what happens when ghost who can't move around unless you come to them are involved. Lets not look at tapes that look old as hell or go into abandon houses folks.

  Nothing was special about this film. If you like J-horror than this is for you. The script holds out the really great part of the film till toward the end and that could have been extended. I guess the two ghost couldn't meet earlier because of Kayako's circumstances. I enjoyed Sadako vs. Kayako like all the other installments since I don't take these films too seriously and take it for what it is.