Flying Colours (2015) Japan

The hard work always pays off.

Original title:

Birigyaru (Japanese)

Genre:

Comedy, Drama.

Length:

Approximately 5-minute read.


Review:
     I love Japanese film and have seen all kinds of them. Yet discovering one more wonderful film like this made my day. Now this is one of my all time favourite. The reason is it is a very inspiring tale, based on the book of the same name, which was originally based on the real life event of the author. Despite it dealt with a serious issue, the story was narrated with lots of fun. You know, if you are telling a most important story that does not mean it has to be slow, dull and artistic presentation. The film looked like some kind of commercial film with an awesome background score, but at the end, it accomplished everything it wanted to tell its viewers quite smartly.

     This is a couple of year old film that I somehow managed to check it out now. Only regret is that I'm watching it so late. No need to be confused that it is not an out and out chick flick. It should be watched by all, especially the students and their parents, together. A beautiful message regarding the importance of education. That's not it, it also focused on parenting issues, teaching methods and friends influence. Not everybody born with a gift to do good at education, but it can be developed with proper care and coaching. That's the film's notion which finely presented on the screen.

     Sayaka was born in an average family. Her father was keen to make her elder brother a pro baseball player since his childhood. So her mother took care of her and her little sister's childhood. Being frequently changing school, she never made friends, but finally when she did, her education doomed. Now on the edge of finishing school and entering college, she has not learned anything, just to pass the entrance exam. From her teacher to her father, very sure that she has no future. That's what she has to prove them wrong. With her mother's everlasting back, she takes up the biggest task of her life which is going to impact her life forever.

 If you call a student a loser, they believe it. They lose confidence. 

     The film had lots of inspiring lines. I felt this was one of those films must be shown in the schools. Apart from the education, the parenting failure was another highlight of the film. It was not like the child was completely abandoned. It was the split parenting. It happens when parents failed to unitedly treat equally all their children. One of the reasons could be the field of interest they share with them. Or maybe forcing on them with their failed dream. A kid's family influences his/her beahaviour out in the society, as well as society's in the house. These two to balance, one must have good parents and teachers. And not to ignore the friends.

     The music was so good. I think OST is worth a buy. It helped the film to keep the pace in check. Apart from colourful and fun narration, it also gets us with sentiments. Maybe that part seems too intentional, but as for the Japanese standard/culture that I've learnt through watching films, it was natural. The shocking part was the domestic violence which is rare in Japanese films, particularly among those I have seen. The education system varies in different part of the world, but the effort, the hard work are same. No pain, no gain is the motto. You can't just attempt and win. The path always filled with ups and downs. The one who faces them with the right attitude earns right result.

     The basic platform was so common, even though the overall film was well told. From the writing to direction and music, a one. All the cast was excellent too. The runtime was just below the two hour mark, but a story like this, nothing bothers. To achieve cinematic result, the story kind of lost the realistic touch, but we must not forget that as I said it was based on the real which simply adjusted to two hour film. The young lead actress won the Japanese Academy Awards. For such an important message film, this is an under-noticed film. I'm not excited just because being a Japanophile. Definitely a must see film and recommend it to all!



Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


Similar movies:
Hana and Alice, High School Debut, Swing Girls, A Yell from Heaven, My Rainy Days.


External link(s):

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The Tail Job (2015) Australia

Who is this Sio Bohan!

Genre:

Action, Adventure, Comedy.

Length:

Approximately 4-minute read.


Review:
     This is why I keep my eye on the Aussie films. It came a couple of years ago, but till now I did not get a chance to watch it. One of the best B movies I have seen. Totally under-noticed. A simple story, that's a 24 hour event, roaming around the city in a taxi. I mean tailing a girl as the title says. A perfect situation for a perfect comedy, thoroughly enjoyable film.

     I was this close to ignore it. Seeing its poster, anybody would make such decision. But I often take chances on such small films, and with a right time I just finished watching it. Then surprised by how wonderful it was. I just thought if it was a Hollywood film with stars like Kevin Hart in it, the fate of the film would have been different. So if you are reading this, simply put it into your watch list. I'm not expecting you all to love it, but surely most of you end up liking it.

     The film opened with some gangsters business, a killing business. Soon the narration turned to a man who decided to tail his fiancee thinking she might be having an affair. Fortunately, he teams up with a taxi driver who is willing to help him, but of course it costs lots of money. Once their tailing job went wrong, everything changes, leading to them to no go zone and also chased by a psycho driver.

 Do you have any idea of the shit storm you've just brought to your front door? 

     The worst night of their lives, the two with a never give up attitude, they go certain length to accomplish the mission they have taken. Among all, I felt sorry for the character Stacey. All along I knew what would be the result of this story, but possibly a twist could have changed it, but did not. So Stacey was a good addition to spice up the story. Like her, many small roles had some nice impact on the narration. Started off well and ended on a high.

     It all revolved around the name Sio Bohan. You might think it is a made up name with a misunderstanding, but the film defined differently as the story progressing. It was like the short animation 'The Chubbchubbs', too much hyped and then lived up to that par. Of course it all seems intentionally done, but a well done job by the writers to create those perfect circumstances, particularly being funny.

     So much fun. Of course, cinematically it all possible, but the thing is the film opened by telling us it was inspired by a real event. I think what they meant is it was based on every suspicious boyfriends, grooms, husbands. Most of the events improvised for the film to get a better outcome. Yes, the filmmaker has done an awesome job. The production was very good also the performances, particularly all the main cast.

     Don't judge the film by it's poster as I almost did. Also, it is a much better film than the average rating you see on the internet. These two lead actors were awesome. It was a great combo, one of the best I've seen in the cinematic world. I hope they would return, possible a sequel to this one. A must watch film, especially by the people in their 20s and 30s.



Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


Similar movies:
Last Cab to Darwin, Moments of Clarity, Open Windows, The Road Within, Detours.


External link(s):

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A Bramble House Christmas (2017) Canada

The suspense behind $100,000.

Genre:

TV Movie, Drama, Romance.

Length:

Approximately 4-minute read.


Review:
     Just as I thought watching Christmas films are over, only the real Christmas is what left to enjoy, I came across with this film. This is a last moment review written in the week of Christmas eve. The reason I liked was, it is another Christmas film based on the book of the same name. I think Hallmark should adapt books more often. The original screenplays are almost nothing. No innovation, not interesting enough. But literature based films like this makes a lot sense to watch. With an artistic presentation, the depth in characters and events, the story is well convincing.

     Well, the story is not new. We all know it, especially how it's going to turn out at the end. But that's not the issue. How much you are satisfied with the way it all were told matters. So apart from a good story, the actors and director too makes an impact. I think it all worked out well for this. Yet there was a small drawback that towards the end of the second act, the story dried up. I mean literally when all the important matter was sorted out, the rest of the narration till the final twist was simply a drag. A time killer with casual scenes.

 Look around you, and then close your eyes. Put everything you just saw into your brain like a picture. That way, you can keep it, even after we've gone. 

     Willa, a single mother and her young boy is all set to enjoy their Christmas in the Bramble house BnB. On the other side of the tale, Finn disappointed with his father who had died weeks ago, left nothing to him, but for a stranger, Willa. So he decides to find out the reason and confront her with a legal option. Now, on the eve of the Christmas week, they meet at the Bramble house and develop an unexpected relationship with mother and son. Once the truth ready to get out, what happens and how the story would end was told quite nicely.

     The character Finn looked good, but with a bad intention in his mind makes a villain, at least in the beginning. The actor who played it kind looked expressionless, even when he smiled. As the story went on, he looked better. Maybe I got used to it. Because slowly his behaviour has changed, leaving us to expect, how he would react at the end. You know without making something into a complicate, there's no end twist. In this, it was his identity and purpose of meeting Willa. That character makes this tale possible. But Willa is the one mysterious until she reveal about her life, particularly the secret about her son.

     One of the good Christmas films of this season I've seen. More importantly, it emotionally get us. That's crucial if the film is aimed for families. Of course not without romance theme, otherwise these things won't work, but it was not focused on that thing alone. Mixing the festival occasion, romance, and personal life was neatly done. So if you want to watch a Christmas film, this won't be a bad pick. But as I always say, this is a television film, so be compromised on the overall perspective of the product and enjoy.



Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


Similar movies:
A Gift to Remember, Switched for Christmas, Miss Christmas, The Perfect Christmas Present.


External link(s):

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A Gift to Remember (2017) USA

Love at first crash.

Genre:

TV Movie, Drama, Romance.

Length:

Approximately 4-minute read.


Review:
     Like every year in December, my quest begins to watch some of the Christmas films. Mostly the television films, and that too obviously the Hallmark films. As I have mentioned previous years, it's impossible to avoid such seasonal film, if you are a cinephile. I almost saw a dozen of films, they all were decent, but none of them quite impressed me, until this one. This is not like the best film of the season, but among those I've seen, it is that I really enjoyed.

     Based on the novel of the same name. I don't know if the book was a Christmas themed, but this one was tuned to the festival occasion. From the television director who had done a film series recently. The actors I don't know, but I liked their good performances. One big drawback in all the Hallmark Christmas films is they are predictable. The films usually aimed for middle-aged to older women in the family. That's not me and I'm aware of that, so I compromise while rating and reviewing, that I always end up saying 50/50. This one rarely stood just above that mark, so here I'm with my feature review.

     Darcy is a young woman who works in a prominent bookstore in the town. Very active and always just in time for everything. But on one occasion, she has been late for work, so while hurrying on the road with her bike, collides with a stranger. Now he's in the hospital with amnesia. Feeling guilty, Darcy decides to help him out to gain his memory. So her adventure to find his real identity, and while following events pushes them so close. But if he regains his memory, it might put her in a disappointing state. Because that's what truth always does.

 Caring for others reveals the best versions of ourselves. 

     This could be my last Christmas film of this year. And I'm quite happy I enjoyed it and the season ended on a high. The concept of amnesia worked so well for this film. Because of that, the suspense grew and held back until the finale. Obviously that end part was predictable, due to this is a family film and all the family films ends positive note. If you know that and set your mind accordingly, then you would also have a good time with it.

     Well, the dog had a nice role. I anticipated more part for him, but a limited one. Usually all the Christmas films made for the television are cliched romance tale, especially the initiation. This was unique, well, better than the most. That best start carried out decently in the middle section. Nothing much fuss. With a bunch of wonderful characters and lines and shot in the nicest locations, the film had the upper hand throughout.

     I hope it is as good as the original source. One of the reasons I liked it was not being entirely about Christmas. It sets in only on that backdrop. While the majority of the tale focused on romance. The memory loss brings the some fairy-tale perspective. Overall, it ended nicely. So this is the one I pick for this year and suggest a must see. That's only if you are seeking a Christmas film and also must be watched before the season ends for a better result. Finally, I must say this that I enjoyed it does not mean you too would do the same. Hundreds of Christmas films come out every year, so choose wisely. You might find a better than this that I haven't seen!



Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


Similar movies:
Switched for Christmas, A Brumble House Christmas, The Perfect Christmas Present, Miss Christmas.


External link(s):

WCA geolocation:
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