DVD Collectors Online

The Quiet American, a review by Jon

The Quiet American
4 out of 5



The acclaimed performances of Brendan Fraser (The Mummy, Bedazzled) and two-time Academy Award winner Michael Caine (Best Supporting Actor, The Cider House Rules, 1999; Hannah And Her Sisters, 1986) power a stylish political thriller where love and war collide in Southeast Asia. Set in early 1950s Vietnam - an idealistic young American (Fraser) becomes entangled in a dangerous love triangle when he falls for the beautiful mistress of a troubled British journalist (Caine). As war is waged around them, these three only sink deeper into an unsettling world of drugs, passion and betrayal where nothing is as it seems! Based on the classic novel by Graham Greene - you'll find yourself riveted by the fascinating intricacies and intrigue of this outstanding motion picture!

Sometimes the best way to learn about something big is to focus on something small. The Quiet AmericanThe Quiet American is similar in some ways to The Constant Gardener (not just because it stars someone from The Mummy

(From Jon's Alphabet Marathon 2010 on July 23rd, 2010)

28 Days Later, a review by snowcat

(From Emma's Film Reviews (snowcat) on November 2nd, 2009)

Tom's Random Reviews, a review by Tom

Title: Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl
Year: 2006
Director:
Rating: PG-13
Length: 325 Min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: Japanese: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles: English

Stars:


Plot:
On a warm, cloudy afternoon, Tomari bursts in on two girls from her class, Hazumu and Yasuna, sharing a tender first kiss. Her heart breaks ... from jealousy.

Hazumu was born a boy, but he certainly doesn't act it. He's sensitive, delicate, and loves gardening. Lucky for him, he grew up with the tomboy Tomari, who is always there to protect him. Despite her own feelings, she pushes Hazumu to confess his love to the elegant Yasuna. After Yasuna rejects him, he retreats into the mountains in despair. So begins the strange series of events that changes him into a her, and earns her the love of both Yasuna and Tomari.

Extras:
Interviews
Textless opening and closing
Trailers

Surprisingly couragous for the conservative Japan.
A boy, which through an accident with an alien ship gets tranformed into a girl is caught in a love triangle with two other girls. Both of which were already interested in him while he was a boy. One is a girl also he was interested in, the other is his long-time childhood friend.
What I found refreshing is, that the makers made it clear from the beginning, that this change is not reversable. So there is no easy way out by simply turning him back into a boy. Also he is not trying to be more boyish after turning into a girl. As a matter of fact he was rather girly to begin with.
I don't know if it was intentional, but I see it as a metaphor for a girl caught in a boy's body who is now being turned into his/hers true self (sex-change operation).
This series touches a little on the topic of how friends and family will react on such a change. Partly in a comedic way, but also in a serious way (especially the girls caught in the love triangle).
Another interesting aspect brought into the series is a strange illness one of the girls has, where she cannot can see the boys only some vage figure.

Overall a fun romantic comedy, where the main protagonist happens to be a girl instead of a boy.

Rating:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSvaVl0y-Xs

(From Tom's Random Reviews on November 9th, 2008)