Mea Culpa's and a Lone Wolf with Cub

Rainy Day apologizes for not keeping you, her faithful readers, up to date on the movies she's watching. Actually, she hasn't watched too many movies, she's been too engrossed in another Japanese TV series from the 1970s. And, of course, she's also been busy with the Holidays;-) She hopes you will forgive her as she gets back on track.

Lone Wolf and Cub: TV Series

Japanese, English subtitles

1970s, 90 minutes (2 episodes)

5 Stars

Ogami Itto, the wrongfully disgraced executioner of the Shogun, did not commit seppuku as a man of honor would have; instead, he took his infant son, his Datanuki battle sword, and set off to wander Japan as an Assassin for Hire and to clear his name. Kinnosuke Nakamura epitomizes the 'strong, silent hero' as Ogami. And his young son, now about 3 or 4, is equally silent. If you liked The Lone Ranger Rainy Day is fairly confident you'll enjoy this series. True, Ogami is a sword for hire, but he does not take every job that comes his way. True, he is a ronin, but he is a ronin with honor. Rainy Day is not getting the discs in order, but it doesn't seem to matter. Each story is complete.

As Rainy Day thinks on it, this series reminds her a lot of the various Western series and movies she loved when growing up – the ones where the hero with or without a sidekick, rode into town, saved the town, the heroine, the poor and downtrodden from the evil outlaws, cattle barons, or whatever. If you liked those oldies but goodies, give Lone Wolf and Cub a try.

For a trailer for the first Lone Wolf and Cub movie, click here. The movie and series have subtitles, the trailer does not. But, who needs subtitles for a sword fight?

The Red Violin

The Red Violin

English

2000 Academy Awards: Best Music Score

1998, 130 Minutes

5 Stars

Rainy Day loves, Loves, LOVES this movie! Rainy Day had to take violin lessons when she was young. Rainy Day has no musical talent, but she does have a great appreciation for music of all kinds, and this movie is chockablock full of some of the most gorgeous violin music she's ever heard. The star of the movie is the Red Violin, with strong supporting role by Samuel L. Jackson. In a series of flashbacks, we follow the history of this most amazing instrument as it reveals love, romance, and some of the most gorgeous violin music ever. There are a couple of sex scenes, enough to warrant an R rating, so it may not be a 'family time' movie if your kidlets are young.  Each story the violin 'tells' is beautiful and believable.

Click here for a two minute trailer. 

Dancing By The Star!

Mao's Last Dancer

English

2010, 117 Minutes

5 Stars

Rainy Day seems to be on a run for Biopics. This movie is based on the autobiography of Li Cunxin, a peasant villager taken at age 11 to study ballet in Beijing. From there, he is 'seen' by Ben Stevenson, Director of the Housing Ballet Company, and brought to the US on a temporary Visa. The music ranges from Chinese traditional to Ballet classical; the dancing is breathtaking in its beauty. Li's decision to remain in the US is heartfelt, and sad, and joyous all at once. There are many scenes to bring forth laughs, and a few that bring forth tears.  From the poverty of China in the Cultural Revolution to the excesses of Houston, this is a great movie and a terrific story. 

YouTube Talk

YouTube Innerview    

Have you ever considered how difficult it would be to leave your country, your family, your very language, to pursue your dream? Could you? Would you? 

As A Poet, Rainy Day Just Had to Watch

Poetry

Korean, English Subtitles

2010, 139 minutes

5 Stars

This is one of the most touching movies Rainy Day has seen. Grandmother Mija is raising her grandson, Wook as his mother lives and works in another city. Wook is a pain, and his story is always in the background. Mija works part-time to make ends meet, and is alone when diagnosed with the beginnings of Alzheimer's Disease. She enrolls in a class to learn to write poetry, a passion with her. This touching drama follows her through her job, her diagnosis, and the writing of her poem. It's a quiet drama, no fights, but understated tension. Spoiler Alert! The ending is open. If you must have everything tied into a neat package, this is not for you. A beautiful and well-told poignant story of the meaning of Love and Life, and how some face their mortal end. A haunting movie.

For the trailer, click here. There are no subtitles on this trailer.

Temple Grandin, my Heroine! (and her Family;-)

Temple Grandin

English

2010, 120 minutes

10 Stars (out of 5)

Claire Danes stars as Temple Grandin, a woman who had the great good fortune of being born to a family who not only loved her, but was intelligent enough to find their own path through her autism. Diagnosed with Infantile Schizophrenia at age four, the doctor told her Harvard educated mother to institutionalize her. Mama and the family believed she was 'different, not less.' Because of their love, and determination, Temple received a marvelous education in the field of her choice (Animal Husbandry) eventually earning a PhD, she learned at a bone-marrow level she was different, not less, and faced challenges few of us ever will. She learned to walk through doors of opportunities and is an inspiration to all. Many good laughs in this Biographical HBO Movie. For more information on Temple Grandin, click here for her website.

Click here for a trailer.

Sometimes you just need a good story...

Kabei: Our Mother

2008, 133 minutes

Japanese, English Subtitles

10 Stars out of 5)

Based on Teruyo Nogami's autobiography, this film focuses on her childhood years in 1940s Tokyo. Her father, Professor Nogami is jailed on suspicion of being a Communist, leaving his wife and two young daughters to fend for themselves. Directed by Yoji Yamada (Twilight Samurai, the Hidden Blade) this quiet drama focuses on life as it existed before and during WWII. Although a tearjerker, Rainy Day never felt the story contrived; instead, she saw a great deal of beauty in the human situation, replete with honest laughter to balance the honest tears. The music is gorgeous, and fits the story. Yoji Yamada is rapidly becoming one of Rainy Day's most favorite directors. Teruyo Nogami is not without credentials on her own having spent 50 years with Akira Kurosawa.

Click here for trailer.  

It's time for Witch Hunts, again!

Season of the Witch

2011, 113 Minutes

English

4 Stars

Rainy Day doesn't much care for 'witch hunt' movies—too many in her family background—but she has to admit, this was great fun. Rainy Day is not a huge fan of Nicholas Cage, but she loves Ron Perlman, and in her mind, he carried the day, with Cage a superb help. If you want accurate history of the Plague Days or Crusades don't watch. If you want a fun movie with lots of great one-liners by Cage and Perlman, enjoy. This movie is fun, exciting, funny, dark, not too scary. It is the story of two courageous knights who give up warring and agree to transport a young girl/suspected witch for trial. She is suspected of spreading the Black Plague and must stand trial and be executed to save the world from its spread. Lots of laughs.

Click here for a trailer.

13 Assassins

13 Assassins

Japanese, English Subtitles

2010, 126 minutes

4 Stars

Rainy Day loves a good swordfight, as you all know, but she found the long slaughter a bit much in this movie. The first half of the movie is necessary set-up, the second half is the fight. Think Sam Peckinpah in a kimono directing the A Team. Takashi Miike is a wonderful director, and certainly goes for realism. Rainy Day did find herself mesmerized, and had to watch it to the end. She was certain the Bad Dude would die, then she wasn't so sure, and then she wondered if it was Good Dude A who would kill him, or Bad Dude B who would see the light. All in all, this movie was well done on all counts, and Rainy Day dropped it a star just because of the long slaughter. A strong film, violent and dark.

Click here for the official trailer.