Monday, March 29, 2010

Movie Review: Tajomaru


I had been waiting for subs for this movie ever since the DVD came out. I was disappointed that the DVD didn't come with subs, but DLAZNMovies finally had a copy. Here's the specs:

Set sometime in the late Muromachi period, Naomitsu Hatakeyama (Shun Oguri!!!!) is the second son of the distinguished Hatakeyama family. His lifelong friend and and love interest is Ako-hime (Yuki Shibamoto). When Ako-hime's father dies, Yoshimasa Ashikaga (Kenichi Hagiwara) elicits a decree that will forever change their fates.

Soon afterwards, Naomitsu is betrayed by his very own brother Nobutsuna Hatakeyama (Hiroyuki Ikeuchi), who plans to forcibly take Ako-hime for himself. Naomitsu loves Ako-hime so much that he is ready to give up his life and flee into the mountains with Ako-hime. While travelling through the mountains, Naoitsu soon faces another betrayal, this time from retainer Sakuramaru (Kei Tanaka), a man Naomitsu once saved from death and took care of like a brother.

Naomitsu Hatakeyama then comes back as Tajomaru ....


Review:

Shun Oguri did not disappoint in his roll as Naomitsu/Tajomaru. I have to say that this is the best movie he had been a part of so far. Naomitsu as a character was very well developed and believable. Love, pain, and outrage changes the character though out the movie. He always states that he only wanted Ako, and that being the heir or inheriting a title or gold didn't matter to him at all.

Nobutsuna is the older brother and the heir of the Hatakeyama family. The beginning of the movie portrays Nobutsuna as the weaker brother, Naomitsu losing to him in things on purpose and stating he could never win against his older brother.

Sakuramaru is a hard character to accept. Let's leave it at that to keep away from spoilers.

Ako grew up with the brothers and even when they were small preferred Naomitsu over the older brother Nobutsuna. Later in the movie both her parents die and she is supposed to marry Nobutsuna in order to give him her father's title and gold. I really loved to hate this character.

The story line is excellent; marked by betrayal, love, misunderstandings, hatred, forgiveness, confusion... the list goes on and on.

And one thing I cannot leave out is the band of bandits Naomitsu travels with while under the name Tajomaru: Saru, Doken, Taka, and the others MADE the movie.

So... go watch. While waiting on an english subbed DVD, download a copy at DLAZNMOVIES, link in the corner.

Friday, March 19, 2010

American Re-Make of DeathNote


And the number 1 actor for Light Yagami is.......

ZAC EFFRON??? Huh?

Some idiot decided since Effron resembles Light from the manga, Effron would be a good actor to play Light.

...

There's nothing more I can say.



I have just read and signed the online petition: "DO NOT Cast Zac Effron as Light Yagami " hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com, the free online petition service, at: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/apple88/ I personally agree with what this petition says, and I think you might agree, too. If you can spare a moment, please take a look, and consider signing yourself.

Miyavi North America Tour Dates!

2010/6/10 サンディエゴ , San Diego / House of Blues
2010/6/12 ロサンゼルス , Los Angeles / Club Nokia Live
2010/6/13 アナハイム , Anaheim / The Grove of Anaheim
2010/6/15 サンフランシスコ , San Francisco / The Fillmore
2010/6/17 バンクーバー , Vancouver / Commodore Ballroom
2010/6/18 シアトル , Seattle / Showbox
2010/6/23 シカゴ , Chicago / House of Blues
2010/6/24 トロント , Toronto / Sound Academy
2010/6/25 ボストン , Boston / Wilbur Theatre
2010/6/27 ニューヨーク , N.Y. / The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza
2010/6/29 ワシントン , Washington / 9:30 Club
2010/7/1 アトランタ , Atlanta / Masquerade
2010/7 /3 ダラス , Dallas / House of Blues
2010/7/4 ヒューストン , Houston / House of Blues