The Song That Saved the World -- Thoughts on Fish Story (フィッシュストーリー)

What if I told you that a song would save the world...

In short: Fish Story will take you on a wild, improbable ride that will leave you smiling once the credits begin. It is a film that rewards multiple viewings as it will leave you thinking and desiring to watch it again almost immediately. Great acting and an incredibly well put together set of events leads to a movie that definitely should be seen. My favorite film of 2009 so far.

If you haven't seen Fish Story yet, you may want to stop reading this review after this paragraph. There aren't spoilers in my review, but it is one of those movies that is best viewed with no preconceived ideas about the plot. Watch the film and enjoy the twists and turns that the story takes. It is a ride that most will undoubtedly enjoy.

Fish Story is about a punk band named Gekirin that recorded a single called "Fish Story" in 1975, a year before the Sex Pistols popularized punk music. Despite knowing that their music won't sell, Gekirin and their supportive producer decide to record this song knowing that one day it will impact the life of at least one person. The film jumps around different time periods ranging from 1975 to 2012, where a meteor is on a collision course for Earth. Going through the movie, the viewer is shown different stories without knowing what is going on or how they factor in to the main narrative.

Each part of the film is captivating, despite the fact that we don't really know what is going on in the film as a whole. Every new story reveals a piece to the puzzle and when they all come together at the end you'll feel like jumping up, running outside, and telling everyone that they NEED to watch Fish Story. Then you'll want to watch it again. This movie has one of the most satisfying endings that I have ever experienced.

I love the cast in this film. Acting was solid, but no award-winning performances. I particularly enjoyed Omori Nao, who played the producer that discovered Gekirin as well as a music shop owner whose store is open despite the pending destruction of Earth. I also thought Kora Kengo, playing Gekirin's singer, and Moriyama Mirai, playing a guy trained since birth to be a "champion of justice" (his action sequences were really cool) stood out. Based on a novel by Isaka Kotaro and adapted by Hayashi Tamio, Fish Story has a great script. Also, the cinematography is good (though certainly not groundbreaking) as well as the directing. Music is great, especially the song "Fish Story" which was written specially for the film.

I can't really name many faults with this film other than it was a little bit draggy in some spots. Also, some may not enjoy the girl's (Tabe Mikako) overenthusiastic acting but I found that it fit her character. The film was just under two hours, but I felt that length was not a problem.

Fish Story jumps around to different genre's (thriller, martial arts action, comedy, music documentary, etc) which I think keeps the movie incredibly engaging, constantly changing up the pace. During my second viewing, I couldn't help but think that I would enjoy watching a film that just took any one of the multiple stories presented and made it feature-length. All of them are that interesting. Having each individual story in the span of a single film, though, is what helps make Fish Story a magical experience. From beginning to end, you will be engaged and entertained. I advise everyone to see Fish Story.

10/10

Incredible Scenes in Japanese Films -- Part 1

WARNING: Major spoilers for the most part, so beware.


花とアリス (Hana and Alice) (2004) -- Dir: Iwai Shunji


This scene moved me deeply.  By including this scene at the very end of his film, Iwai gives the viewer reason to feel emotionally touched by this simple act of ballet.  The music is beautifully composed by Iwai himself.  If you haven't seen the film, this scene will not mean as much to you as it does to one who has seen it.  Aoi Yu is truly one of Japanese cinema's great actresses.


僕は妹に恋をする (Boku wa Imouto ni Koi wo Suru -- AKA: I Love My Little Sister) (2007) -- Dir: Ando Hiroshi



About the only good part of this film is the final 20 minutes.  In this scene, the actors decide to act, especially Matsumoto Jun.  While a bit wary of this film, which deals with sibling incest, this scene made up for most of my doubts.  Filmed in a single take, the scene is a culmination of the characters' emotions; they realize that they cannot be together and this is their final moment of intimacy.  By playing this simple game, they remember their childhood while finally admitting to themselves that this is the end of their fantasy; they have to return to the real world.

家族ゲーム (Family Game) (1983) -- Dir: Morita Yoshimitsu

The famous food-fight scene.  This scene is completely ridiculous and masterful.  Filmed in a single take, the scene depicts the family and the tutor of one of the boys eating dinner to celebrate the boy's acceptance into a top high school.  The dinner gets out of hand, however, when the tutor decides to wreak havoc upon the entire family, slowly destroying their dinner and beating them up.  It is a puzzling scene in the context of the entire film, which seeks to show the discord in normal family life.


Picnic (1996) -- Dir: Iwai Shunji



Picnic is a film about escaped mental asylum patients who want to see the world.  They receive a bible and misinterpret a part, believing that the world will soon end.  This scene gives me goosebumps every time I watch it.  Tsumuji (Asano Tadanobu) fires his pistol at the sun, thinking that he can hit it and destroy the world.  Coco (CHARA) decides to end her own life after he fails.  A scene of black feathers against setting sun follows, along with an upset Tsumuji firing his empty pistol in futility.  Beautiful, haunting scene.


This is basically a test post, as these are not scenes that I have specifically cut.  They were the only ones on my list that I could actually find in some form already existing on YouTube.  Most of it is bad quality and most of the scenes are pretty long, so bear with me.  Quality will improve!

Highly Anticipated: ソラニン (Solanin)

Solanin


Mistaken thoughts from beyond the sky
A life spent saying goodbye?
The little piece of the future I saw
Was waving goodbye

The small room I once lived in
Is now occupied by someone else
The horrible things I said to you
The days that were wasted

Perhaps if I'd taken that chance, if I could go back to that day
But I'll never be that person again

Even if that frail happiness
had somehow lingered on
A bad seed would surely have sprouted
So I guess this is goodbye

The cold cans of coffee from freezing winters
That long rainbow coloured scarf
I stroll through the back alley
It all comes back to me

Even if that frail happiness
had somehow lingered on
A bad seed would surely have sprouted
So I guess this is goodbye

I guess

Goodbye, that's enough
You can cope anywhere
Goodbye, I'll manage somehow too
Goodbye, that's what I'll do






Above are the lyrics and PV from Asian Kung-Fu Generation's adaptation of the song "solanin" from the manga solanin.  This song was made for the film of the same name, which was just released in Japan on April 3rd, starring Miyazaki Aoi, Kora Kengo, Arata, and some other famous names.  I immensely enjoyed the manga and cannot wait to watch the film.  The story follows a young couple that both have no direction in their lives; Meiko has just quit her job and is unemployed and Taneda works part time while playing in a band with his friends.  Meiko pushed Taneda to follow his dream and go big with his band, which convinces him to write their first real song, solanin, and start promoting the band.  Just when everyone is beginning to embrace their uncertain future, tragedy strikes, which changes the lives of everyone.

Asian Kung-Fu Generation is the perfect band to represent the manga, and from the looks of the trailer, the cast seems to be very well chosen.  As long as director Miki Takahiro can retain the magic that the manga had, the film should be well worth the watch.  I personally cannot wait.