Flick Pick: Departures

A good Japanese film is already great for Western standards, and it's better than the usual if it wins the Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film in 2008.

And what made it a success? It's basically the plot, centered around death and moving on. Masahiro Motoki, one of the well-known drama actors of Japan, plays the role of Daigo Kobayashi, an orchestra player who was forced to move out of Tokyo and find a job. Unfortunately, he ended up as a professional encoffiner which fortunately changed things for him and everyone around him.

But the great big bonus that awaits in "Departures," is its wonderful musical score. And I don't think there are any apt descriptions to it after you have heard it. So there, this video performed by composer Joe Hisaishi and the London Symphony Orchestra:



Credits to Movies Where Movies When Movies Were Movies for the poster, and capitalchina in YouTube for the video.

Tracks: The Challenge for Tokyo Police Club

Last Summer of 2011, Toronto-based indie band Tokyo Police Club started a project (but more of a challenge) of coming up with a quick album that contains ten covers of ten famous songs in the past ten years. Fast forward to present, they released the album "10 Days, 10 Covers, 10 Years," and it's quite interesting to see what they have come up with. Here is the list of the album's tracks, together with each of the songs' respective originals.

 South Side (feat. Morgan Kibby of M83)
-by Moby and Gwen Stefani (2001)
>

Sweetness (feat. Michael Angelakos of Passion Pit)
-by Jimmy Eat World (2002)


 Under Control
-by The Strokes (2003)


Since U Been Gone
-by Kelly Clarkson (2004)


Little Sister (feat. Orianthi)
-by Queens of the Stone Age (2005)


Long Distance Call (feat. Ray Suen from Mariachi El Bronx)
-by Phoenix (2006)


All My Friends
-by LCD Soundsystem (2007)


Kim & Jessie
-by M83 (2008)


Strictly Game
-by Harlem Shakes (2009)


Party In The USA
-by Miley Cyrus (2010)


Time to get the album, don't you think?

Credits to weallwantsomeone.org for the info, and various users from Youtube for the videos.

Flick Pick: Zatoichi (2003)

There have been various films that portrayed the legendary blind swordsman created by Kan Shimozawa, but I think that being the most recent, Beat Takeshi (Takeshi Kitano)'s version, suits this generation. In his masterpiece, he plays the role of Zatoichi, who works as a masseur and loves playing dice. Apparently, what really makes up most of his time is to hunt down the abusive samurai and ronin of Yakuza gangs that abuse the inhabitants of a village.

 This movie is significant in such a way that it exposes two things uniquely Japanese. First, it exposes Japanese culture and lifestyle during the Edo Period (violence exaggerated, I think), especially the highlighted customs and practices (the tap dance final scene looks cool, I should say). And second, it serves as a good example of Japanese "blood-splatter" films, which inspired and influenced a lot of films, Japanese and foreign alike (remember Kill Bill?)

 And the third important thing to be pointed out in this movie is Takeshi's genius in filmmaking. Taking the main role while directing it, he was able to revive the series and give it a new, contemporary Japanese taste. A good Samurai plot that presents just enough blood and violence, showered with a few comic scenes was enough for Takeshi to come up with an original and tasty remake. Very unique, indeed. And somebody take note that he was the idea behind the famous game show "Takeshi's Castle."

 

 Yep, he's the guy.

P.S. Hattori, the ronin who was one of Ichi's last opponent, was played by Tadanobu Asano, famous for his superb role in "Ichi The Killer," and plays the Norse God Hogun in the movie "Thor". 

Credits to IMDB for some info, and http://prosubtitrari.com/tag/zatoichi for the pic. Also, absolution171990 in YouTube for the video.