08-19-2006, 06:18 PM
I know, I know - Chick Flick.
Well if DM can review every G-rated piece of Disneyana that runs through the sewers of children's cinema I can review Asian teen comedies.
IMDB Link: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416220/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416220/</a><!-- m -->
I'm actually fascinated by the influence of Western culture on Japan. Even before WW2 (like many other countries) Japan was embracing Western culture and ideas. Well - at least Western commerce.
However, as we've seen, Japan has taken Western culture and turned it sideways. From Catholic schoolgirl uniforms to wacky game shows Japan has taken bits and pieces of Euro-American influence and made them distinctly Japanese.
One of those influences is the Lolita obsession. Many Japanese teen girls wear frilly dresses and carry parasols trying their best to be the most coquette-ish girl on the block.
This film is about one such girl who befriends a member of a notorious all-girl motorcycle gang.
The two have adventures in Pachinko parlors, baby-doll clothing stores and behind giant Buddha statues.
They teach each other about independence, compassion and loyalty.
Oh - and they're hot. Err,..I mean they will be hot when they turn 18.
What rescues the film from being tedious teen-fare is the generous use of cartoon cut-scenes, surreal characters (3-ft pompadour anyone?) and clever dialogue.
Worth the download.
Well if DM can review every G-rated piece of Disneyana that runs through the sewers of children's cinema I can review Asian teen comedies.
IMDB Link: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416220/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416220/</a><!-- m -->
I'm actually fascinated by the influence of Western culture on Japan. Even before WW2 (like many other countries) Japan was embracing Western culture and ideas. Well - at least Western commerce.
However, as we've seen, Japan has taken Western culture and turned it sideways. From Catholic schoolgirl uniforms to wacky game shows Japan has taken bits and pieces of Euro-American influence and made them distinctly Japanese.
One of those influences is the Lolita obsession. Many Japanese teen girls wear frilly dresses and carry parasols trying their best to be the most coquette-ish girl on the block.
This film is about one such girl who befriends a member of a notorious all-girl motorcycle gang.
The two have adventures in Pachinko parlors, baby-doll clothing stores and behind giant Buddha statues.
They teach each other about independence, compassion and loyalty.
Oh - and they're hot. Err,..I mean they will be hot when they turn 18.
What rescues the film from being tedious teen-fare is the generous use of cartoon cut-scenes, surreal characters (3-ft pompadour anyone?) and clever dialogue.
Worth the download.
![[Image: magpie13.gif]](http://imagegen.last.fm/LastfmLiveJournal/recenttracks/magpie13.gif)