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Nobody Knows, a review by Tom

Nobody Knows (2004/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia Sunfilm Entertainment (Germany) Director: Hirokazu Koreeda Writing: Hirokazu Koreeda (Writer) Length: 141 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.66 Audio: German: Dolby Digital 5.1, Japanese: Dolby Digital 5.1 Subtitles: German

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Stars:Plot:
Based on true events that shocked Japan, this story of abandoned siblings is a "harrowing, tender film" (The New York Times) that "unfolds with leisurely beauty" (LA Weekly). Filmed over a year and featuring a performance by 12-year-old Yagira Yuya that won the Best Actor prize at the 2004 Cannes International Film Festival, this "haunting" (Newsday) tale is "heartbreaking brilliant" (The Boston Globe).

A childlike mother of four sneaks her children into their new apartment as if it were a game. One of the game's rules is that only Akira, the oldest, can go outside. Their mother leaves, first for a month, then possibly forever. As the money runs out and the utilities are shut off, Akira struggles to take care of his brother and sisters, determined that they stay alive...and together.

Awards:
Won:

Cannes Festival (2004)

Best Actor (Yagira Yuuya)

Nominated:

Young Artist Awards (2005)

Extras:

• Featurettes
• Photo Gallery
• Production Notes
• Scene Access
• Trailers

Despite its slow pace the movie was engaging throughout the runtime. All children did a great job. Although I would have preferred a proper resolution to the story. If only as a text describing something similar to the real-life happenings on which the story was based on.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Reviews on January 6th, 2011)

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, a review by KinkyCyborg

Title:Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
Year: 2004
Director: Kerry Conran
Rating: PG
Length: 106 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround
Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
Gwyneth Paltrow
Jude Law
Giovanni Ribisi
Michael Gambon
Bai Ling

Plot:Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Closed Captioned
Gag Reel, Original Six Minute Film


Oh how I disliked this movie.... let me count the ways. 

Hey I like CGI and special effects as much as the next person but the entire movie?!?! The only thing that was real in the entire film was the actors and the clothes on their backs. Sure it's a sci-fi flick but it's hard to get into the moment with a digital backdrop throughout the duration.

Some of the technology was neat, like the invading war birds that flapped their wings and the floating 'carriers' adorned with the Union Jack were grand but then others robots of the invading forces looked like little more than giant toasters with arms and legs. 

I normally don't mind Gwyneth Paltrow but I hated her with a passion in this movie. I kept hoping that one of the giant robots would squash her Polly Perkins character and leave her as a bloody pulp of entrails! No such luck. Even the prospect of goggling Angelina Jolie was foiled as she might as well been wearing an Arabic hijab her body was so covered up.... even had a patch over one of her eyes!

I heard bad things about this movie so my expectations were low... apparently not low enough.

KC


Rating:

(From KinkyCyborg's Random Reviews 2010 on October 11th, 2010)

Firefly Marathon, a review by Tom

10. War Stories
Writer: Cheryl Cain (Writer)
Director: James Contner
Cast: Nathan Fillion (Mal), Gina Torres (Zoe), Alan Tudyk (Wash), Morena Baccarin (Inara), Adam Baldwin (Jayne), Jewel Staite (Kaylee), Sean Maher (Simon), Summer Glau (River), Ron Glass (Shepherd Book), Michael Fairman (Adelai Niska), Katherine Kendall (Councillor), Rolando Molina (Bolles), John Dunn (Torturer), Michael A. Bentt (Viktor), Adam Pilver (Vanilla Husband), Johnny Shakespeare (Torture Victim), Jason Van (Man)

A great episode. It's fun how the crew react when Inara brings a female client on board (Jayne: "I'll be in my bunk" )
I have no problems with the sudden appearence of Wash's jealousy. I thought it was fitting. And for the first time we see River in action, which is a great scene.

Rating:

(From Firefly Marathon on March 6th, 2010)