Sakura Ando – Cut To The Chase

Directed By: Masaharu Take

Written By: Shin Adachi

Cinematography: Hiromitsu Nishimura

Editor: Chieko Suzaki

Cast: Sakura Ando, Hirofumi Arai, Yozaburo Ito, Miyoko Inagawa, Saori, Yuki Okita, Kaito Yoshimura, Shohei Uno

32-year-old Ichiko lives at home with her parents, passing the days in self-indulgent grunginess. Ichiko’s recently divorced younger sister Fumiko has moved back home with her young son. One day, after a particularly heated argument, Ichiko charges out of the house for good. With few employment options to support herself, Ichiko works the night shift at a 100 yen shop (dollar store). On her way home each day she passes a boxing gym where she watches Yuji Kano silently practice, developing a crush on him. The pair starts seeing each other and things change for Ichiko… At last, the bell rings and longtime loser Ichiko’s rematch with life begins!

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This is a coming-of-age tale that comes later in life for our lead character. Who simply has not only dropped out of college, but seems to have dropped out of life as all she seems to do is smoke play video games eat badly and take up space rather than actually do anything that helps anyone else or might even help herself.

Once she is thrown out, she has to grow up and little by little she does at first it seems like it’s gonna go easily, but along the way it gets tougher and things never quite work out the way you expect

The film also shows how hard it is to be a woman in society at times. as even a scene of sexual assault in the aftermath isn’t sensationalized it’s dealt with matter fact, but more low-key than anything. This is also a movie about motivation. We watch this characters and it can be infectious for the audience also as a kind of feel good film that is a bit more realistic, and therefore identify.

Throughout the film, she’s disrespected by her coworkers, even by her boyfriend, but as she gains more confidence in herself and learns to take care of herself, she also gains more respect .

The film Isn’t sentimental.

Not going to lie. This is a slow burn of a movie so if you’re looking for something more fast paced and more of a conventional comedy you’ve come to the wrong place. As this film more goes along with kind of a dead pan vibe whereas at times. It’s more comedic and other times it plays more dramatic and even at times it’s even over the top. No it does manage to keep surprising you for the better and more realistic. Though it is awkward throughout.

That what keeps you going is to watch the main characters journey and her adventures.

As you wanna see her conqueror and duo, especially as we have witnessed so many loads, she has had to go through just to re-bottom and finally start fighting for herself.

as this is essentially more of a hangout movie and that moves a little more often than those films do and deals with more locations.

This Japanese movie even ended up being remade in China to a much bigger box office. I haven’t seen the remake but just from the trailer. It looks a little more conventional and motivational than this film, which comes across more as an independent comedy drama.

Grade: B-

Written & Directed By: Takashi Yamazaki

Based on characters created By: Ishiro Honda and Takeo Murata

Cinematography: Kozo Shibasaki

Editor: Ryuni Miyajima

Cast: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Sakura Ando, Munetaka Aoki, Kuranosuke Sasaki, Yuya Endo, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Sae Nagatani

Feeling as if he unfairly cheated death too many times, Shikishima, a surviving Kamikaze pilot, is attacked on Odo Island along with many war plane engineers by a gargantuan monster. After the engineers die because of Shikishima fails to distract the monster, an overwhelming amount of guilt weighs on him, especially after a homeless woman and a baby move into his home when he returns. Shikishima, now on a personal mission, teams up with a large group of veterans to finally take down the monster known as Godzilla.

I am not a huge fan or follower of Godzilla and any Kaiju series of films.

This is by far the best and most impressive Godzilla movie though truthfully I have only really watched the American reboots and the current buddy science-fiction versions that usually pair him with King Kong. Though I have seen a few of the older Japanese ones.

The special effects are impressive and noticeably pay homage to old-school Godzilla and bring them into the present. that are effective.

It’s enjoyable how they never really explain him just as a natural disaster. They continuously have to deal with and how in his aftermath. He is still an imminent threat. This also works as a metaphor for the character’s war lives, trying to find some new kind of normal but everything is different and gone. While the world keeps seeming to move and constantly Change even if some Old Truths stay the same and offer Promise.

It’s A Perfect Example of a lead character dealing with life, death, and guilt. Giving him a hero’s journey in full. We follow mainly through the experiences of one character and those around him. Especially during the years and aftermath of wartime.

Like a war movie in itself, only They are again fighting a war against an unknown enemy though this time feels more worth it as more of a threat

It’s also just a cool movie with a good story, Which is quite effective and relatable. This might have even been bigger during the pandemic. Though it wouldn’t be able to be seen properly. This is a movie that is best seen on the biggest screen possible.

This is a movie that could have been pure entertainment, but It grabs you and pulls you into the plight of the characters and tells a story resonant with rich backstories that are felt. Even if not fully explained

Grade: A-

Tag: Sakura Ando

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GODZILLA MINUS ONE (2023)