I'M HERE

”I'M HERE"(2010/U.S.A)
you can watch this video in full-length movies.


Sheldon was an honest robot working in the library. He met Francesca and he fell in love with her at first sight. Since then, they always stayed together and Sheldon felt so happy like never before.
Since Francesca was a reckless woman, she lost her arm and leg somewhere. Sheldon gave up his arm and leg for her. It was lame losing them for him, but he seemed so happy because he was able to help for her. One day, she had a serious accident and she lost a large part of her body. This time Sheldon helped her by giving his body. So what happened to him?
Although he lost his body, he seemed happy.
When I watched this movie for the first time,  this story immediately reminded me of Shel Silverstein's picture book "The Giving Tree".
In this book, since the tree had loved the boy and gave him all even if the tree had a self-sacrifice. There are many interpretations of this picture book and I don't know what is right. Giving is loving, but too much giving spoils a person.
I thought Francesca didn't understand how big Sheldon's love for her at first. But after the operation in the hospital, she realized that.
I was touched with Sheldon's pure feelings but somehow I felt so sad.
In this movie, self-sacrifice was treated as a beautiful thing. Sheldon might be so happy, but he could never walk hand in hand with Francesca. It made me sad.
Spike Jonze, the director of this movie, is famous for directing of "Being John Malkovich" "Where the Wild Things Are" and "Weapon of Choice"(a music video). His movies are so funny and interesting! I am his big fan for many years!
"I'M HERE" was his first romance movie. 
I think this may be the ultimate movie of pure love. What do you think?


My rating: ★★★★

GATTACA

"GATTACA"(1997/U.S.A)
Synopsis
In the not-too-distant future, a less-than-perfect man wants to travel to the stars. Society has categorized Vincent Freeman as less than suitable given his genetic make-up and he has become one of the underclass of humans that are only useful for menial jobs. To move ahead, he assumes the identity of Jerome Morrow, a perfect genetic specimen who is a paraplegic as a result of a car accident. With professional advice, Vincent learns to deceive DNA and urine sample testing. Just when he is finally scheduled for a space mission, his program director is killed and the police begin an investigation, jeopardizing his secret.


This is a movie released 14 years ago, but there are still a lot of fans of this movie.
Why are there many fans of this movie?　
I think that because the hero has a very positive hope in his future although his life has already been decided by fate. 
He wanted to be an astronaut, but his heart was already weak at birth. He could not give up his dream and although his way was illegal, he got a chance to be an astronaut. He made a lot of effort to impersonate Jerome. He was involved in an incident which was likely to revealed his identity, but he managed to solve it. Deployment of this incident was very exciting and there was a thrill.
At the beginning of last year, NASA selected films that are possible and impossible to happen in real life based on a scientific standpoint. The top of the possible film was this movie GATTACA. 
In the near future, birth will be taken over by genetic engineering. But I want to believe that humans will be changed by effort even if we have the fate of the natural. That was the theme of this movie.
I was sure that Vincent eventually became a man worthy of an astronaut.
"IN TIME" will be released soon in Japan and this movie was made by the same director of "GATTACA". So I'm looking forward to watching it !


My rating:★★★

THE LOST THING

"THE LOST THING"(2010/Australia)
you can watch this video in full-length movies.


This animation is a film adaptation of Shaun Tan's picture book. In his books, his world is very fantastic and it looks like a Sci-fi story. Because I can see unique and interesting creatures. Also there is a deep and meaningful message in all of his stories.
In this movie, I, the main charecter, met a strange creature and he realized  it was lost. Everyone around the creature didin't bother to take care of it. They were all busy. The creature was actually very friendly to him and they played together most of the afternoon. Since then, he could not leave the creature behind. He began looking for a place where the creature could stay and live. Eventually, the creature found a comfortable place to live in and in the end, "I" lost the creature.
After sometimes, "I" noticed that its now very seldom for him to see things or creatures similar to his friend. He just thought that maybe he had been very busy for the past days or maybe he just stopped noticing what happening around him.
So what was the creature? I think it is an expression that is coming from his heart. He could not see the thing when he became busy doing other stuff.
Although sometimes we are busy, we also need to relax or rest our minds for a while. If we  will not do this, we will lost a lot of important things and we also miss to think about the people who needs help.
There are many people who need help, but sometimes we become apathy when we are busy. 
I think apathy is the worst things that can happen to our life. This story made ​​me realize that there's a lot of things around me.
This movie was awarded the short film category at last year's Oscar. The story, of course, is very nice. The hand writing style CG animation has been made ​​very carefully and creatively.
I love this movie very much.


My rating:★★★★

KICK-ASS

"KICK-ASS"(2010/U.S.A/U.K)
synopsis
When Dave Lizewski- ordinary New York teenager and rabid comic-book geek dons a green-and yellow internet-bought wetsuit to become the no-nonsense vigilante,Kick-Ass, he soon finds an answer to his own question; because it hurts. But, overcoming all the odds, the eager yet inexperienced Dave quickly becomes a phenomenon, capturing the imagination of the public. However, he's not the only superhero out there- the fearless and highly-trained father-daughter crime-fighting duo, Big Daddy and Hit Girl have been slowly but surely taking down the criminal empire of local Mafioso, Frank D'Amico. And, as Kick-Ass gets drawn into their no-holds-barred world of bullets and bloodletting with Frank's son, Chris, now reborn as Kick-Ass's arch-nemesis, Red Mist- the stage is set for a final showdown between the forces of good and evil- in which the DIY hero will have to live up to his name. Or die trying...

I'm not a big fan of comics, but I enjoyed watching this movie !
Dave was a stupid hero, but Hit Girl was a really cool superhero! All of her action in this movie was so amazing although several scenes were too cruel to watch. My favorite scene was when Hit Girl reloaded her guns in the air during the gunfight.
Nicolas Cage is known as a crazy fan of comics, so he seemed to enjoy acting Big Daddy. He suggested to the director to change the costume of Big Daddy and he wore a Batman costume of the 1960's as he desired. He also said lines to mimic the Adam West（acting Batman of the 60's TV series.) and Chloë Grace Moretz-Hit Girl said in her interview that it was hard to suppress a laugh. If you know these episodes, this movie becomes more and more fun to watch. 
The major film production company refused to produce this movie and the director; Matthew Vaughn made ​​this at his own expense. As a result, since this movie was a big hit , the sequel is likely comming. I'm excited to watch it and to see Hit Girl again!

My rating:★★★

DISTRICT 9

"DISTRICT9"(2009/U.S.A/South Africa/Canada/New zealand)
Synopsis
In 1982, a massive star ship bearing a bedraggled alien population, nicknamed "The Prawns," appeared over Johannesburg, South Africa. Twenty-eight years later, the initial welcome by the human population has faded. The refugee camp where the aliens were located has deteriorated into a militarized ghetto called District 9, where they are confined and exploited in squalor. In 2010, the munitions corporation, Multi-National United, is contracted to forcibly evict the population with operative Wikus van der Merwe in charge. In this operation, Wikus is exposed to a strange alien chemical and must rely on the help of his only two new 'Prawn' friends.


Under the broken spaceship, aliens were forced to live in refugee camps and they had to move to new camps. Aliens and humans didn't get along well each ohter and Wikus also didn't like Aliens. But he was in need a help from an alien called Christopher Johnson because he was exposed to a mysterious liquid in the tube Christopher made. He gradually began to turn into an alien. He could only protect himself in District 9 from being chased by human. I think he could understand for the first time how difficult it is to live in the refugee camp. The highlight of this movie is his change of thinking for the aliens. According to the information in the movie, his lines of the movie were all ad lib! I was surprised to know that.
The theme of this story forced migration policy from the sixth district in Cape Town since Apartheid policy had been made. We must help each other regardless of race. But If the aliens would come in your country like in this movie, would you help them?  Mankind would treat them as invaders even if they could be friends. So this movie also included the sad history of humans.
Although I hate to see and eat prawn, I like this movie !


My rating:★★★★

CALENDAR GIRLS

"CALENDAR GIRLS"(2003/U.K.)
Synopsis
Based on a true story, eleven middle-aged Englishwomen pose nude for their annual Women's Institute calendar as a fund-raiser for the local hospital. Chris (Helen Mirren) gets the idea to raise money for the hospital after Annie's (Julie Walters) husband dies of leukemia. The calendar is a little different in that each woman is posing behind a different task that the Women's Institute teaches their members, such as making bread rolls, knitting, planting flowers, and playing the piano. Before they know it, the calendar is a big hit in England with tremendous sales. Eventually, they are flown to American to be interviewed by Jay Leno. The calendar has made almost a million dollars for the local hospital.


Chris was a very active and modern woman. She was tired to attend a meeting of a conservative women's institute every thursday. Her idea of making a nude calendar was an unacceptable for the institute.
The purpose of making this calendar was to earn money for a donation to the hospital, but women who appeared in the calendar shoot seemed to enjoy it. Although the women were above the age of 50, they were all very beautiful. I was impressed with one line which the woman said " I am 55 years old. If I'm not gonna get them out now, when am I?" She was  still a cute woman! I think women can try to be beautiful at any age. This movie was showing it for us. 
In this movie Chris emphasized that we were not naked, but nude. What is the difference between naked and nude? Chris said nudity was an art! She was really a modern woman.
This movie is very fun and heartwarming. I highly recommend this movie!

My rating:★★★

MOON

"MOON"(2009/U.K.)
Synopsis
Sam Bell has a three year contract to work for Lunar Industries. For the contract's entire duration, he is the sole employee based at their lunar station. His primary job responsibility is to harvest and periodically rocket back to Earth supplies of helium-3, the current clean and abundant fuel used on Earth. There is no direct communication link available between the lunar station and Earth, so his only direct real-time interaction is with GERTY, the intelligent computer whose function is to attend to his day to day needs. With such little human contact and all of it indirect, he feels that three years is far too long to be so isolated; he knows he is beginning to hallucinate as the end of his three years approaches. All he wants is to return to Earth to be with his wife Tess and their infant daughter Eve, who was born just prior to his leaving for this job. With two weeks to go, he gets into an accident at one of the mechanical harvesters and is rendered unconscious.

Sam had been alone on the moon for a mission with three-year contract. He was looking forward to go back to earth to see his wife and children again. Two weeks before returning to earth, he had an accident. The company thought he died so they prepared the next "Sam" to continue the mission. There were many clones of "Sam" in the moon station and they were waiting to wake up for a three-year mission. Sam survived the accident and he knew the truth but it was too late. He would live for a few days because his body was exposed to radiation by working for three years on the moon.  It meant that Sam will never able to return to earth. 
Sam was really shocked that he was a clone. The story didn't explain the real Sam was at home with his family, but maybe he was. I could feel the feeling of loneliness and disappointment of  Sam's clone. I was confused several times in different scenes of two clones when they are talking to each other, but this movie's story line was easy to understand and I enjoyed very much.
This is Duncan Jones's first feature movie and he is the son of David Bowie. He also directed "Source Code"  that I wrote in the previous review. I became a fan of him and looking forward to see his next movie.


My rating；★★★

LUISA

"LUISA"(2009/Argentina/Spain)
Synopsis
Luisa is a solitary woman who has undergone a traumatic event in her past. When her pet and only companion Tino the cat dies it becomes the catalyst for a turning point in her destiny, helping Luisa to realize that despite her suffering and fears, she is still alive.


Luisa was strictly on time, working in two places everyday and her habits were not disrupted for more than thirty years. She lived away from the people she is related because of a tragedy for her family. She lost her family- the daughter and her husband and never open herself for other people.
One day her cat which was her only friend, died and then she was told she was fired from her two jobs. She lost everything at the same day. I think normally in such cases, the person tend to lose his mind and this happened to her. But when she went to a subway station for the first time and looked at the performers and homeless earn coins there, she decided to do so in the same way.  She bought lucky Chinese cards to use what little money she had and she tried to sell the card to passengers. After failing to sell them, she bought a pair of crutches and she started pretending to be injured to get money.
Her aggressive power behind her crazy actions just focused on earning her dead cat's burial expenses. Yes, her actions were really crazy but she felt so lively that people living in a subway station than in her practically dead life. Somehow I understood her feeling.
There were two men trying to understand her bad situation and when she felt the sincerity of these two men, she began to talk her past and opened her heart for the first time. I thought she did not despair of life and she would live happier than before.
I enjoyed this movie very much and the sound of the guitar which was used in this movie was very effective and it expressed Luisa's feelings of sadness and happiness.


My rating: ★★★

Los ojos de Julia(Julia's Eyes)

"Los ojos de Julia(Julia's Eyes)"(2010/Spain)

Synopsis

After the death of the blind Sara, who hung herself in the basement of her house, her twin sister Julia suspects that she was actually murdered. Julia has a degenerative problem in her eyes and is losing her sight and she temporarily moves with her husband Isaac to Sara's house to arrange her funeral. Julia goes to the Centro Baumann for blinds where Sara frequented and she learns from the others blind users that Sara had a boyfriend. Julia is chased by a mysterious man but the police inspector Dimas does not believe on her. Julia follows the last steps of Sara trying to find the identity of her secret lover. Julia is surrounded by deaths and weird events while she loses her sight.

Julia was convinced that someone had killed Sara. Although she was worried that she might be blind, she tried to find Sara's killer.

This movie had a quick and lively tempo until half of the story and I was interested to speculate who the killer was. But the other half, the story was just like any other mystery movie with the presence of a madman. 

While Julia had a surgery and a bandage on her eyes, the screen didn't show Julia was talking with. The audience felt uneasy as if they feel almost like the blind character. The camera work of the scene was the best in this movie!

In Sara's house the killer was exploring opportunities to kill Julia and when he cornered her in the living room, she switched off the breaker to hide from him. He used the flash of camera to find her. This scene reminded me of the ending of the movie"The Silence of the Lambs".

The killer died the same as other crime movies and Julia realized how her dead husband loved her so much. Although  the surgery failed , she seemed happy because she could live with the eyes that her husband had given her.

My rating:★★

MY SISTER'S KEEPER

"MY SISTER'S KEEPER"(2009/U.S.A)
In Los Angeles, the eleven year old Anna Fitzgerald seeks the successful lawyer Campbell Alexander trying to hire him to earn medical emancipation from her mother Sara that wants Anna to donate her kidney to her sister. She tells the lawyer the story of her family after the discovery that her older sister Kate has had leukemia; how she was conceived by in vitro fertilization to become a donor; and the medical procedures she has been submitted since she was five years old to donate to her sister. Campbell accepts to work pro bono and the obsessed Sara decides to go to court to force Anna to help her sister.

Kate had Leukemia when she was two years old. Her parents wanted to save her life and decided to have another baby-Ann as her donor. It meant Ann was born as a product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis.
Anne from the age of five, endured surgery for her sister, but one day she accused her parents to protect her body and future.
At first, I thought this movie was about the trial but it was not. This movie was about family love and death with dignity.
Kate and Ann's mother, Sara was desperate to save Kate's life no matter how Kate wanted to end her suffering.　The real reason why Ann filed the case was to be free from Kate and respect death with dignity.
It's very difficult problem to understand the death with dignity. If I had a child who had a serious illness who is alive, I could not respect it and tried to do the same thing as Sara. But in this movie, the audience could understand Kate's feelings easily because of the great production and music and they could acknowledge that she is willing.
It is so sad to separate a person you loved, but sooner or later a life comes to the end and so we should cherish everyday and our family.
According to the production's note, the ending of this story is completely different with the original novel. I like the movie's ending, because I thought this was a happy ending than the novel although Kate died.


My rating:★★★★