Detective Conan Live Action Movie

           I just finished watching this Detective Conan action movie today, entitled "Kudo Shinichi's Written Challenge." The actor who played Shinichi Kudo is Shun Oguri, and the actress who played Ran is Tomoka Kurokawa. I prefer the actress who played Ran in the series than this actress in the movie version. She looks much older for a high school student role.

The story setting took place when Shinichi is still in his normal self, meaning he was not yet made to drink the pill that would make him a kid. This scenario is before that. I really appreciate the live action adaptation of this anime. I became familiar with the characters including Inspector Megure. I don't like the character of the father of Ran. 

The story or plot in this movie. Shinichi receives a challenge letter telling him one of their classmates will be kidnapped. So its up to Shinichi to stop or not let this abduction happen. I really enjoyed watching this movie. No spoilers here. If you enjoyed the anime, you will also enjoy the live action movies.

Detective Conan

           I'm back! After 6 years I'm posting again. It is my "theme" time once again. Before getting pregnant I am into Agatha Christie novels. I even bought a classic costume with a summer hat, and posing for a photo with a few of her books. After that when I became pregnant with baby Ysabella, I was fond of painting and doing art. After being fascinated with India's culture and food. I am coming back again to Japanese culture. I suddenly became interested with mystery novels again, with the likes of suspense, mystery and thriller author, Mary Higgins Clark, Patricia Cornwell and of course the anime and live action of Detective Conan. When I was a kid I love reading and solving mysteries even if I often failed to solve it. I remember I have this book entitled, 2 Minute Mysteries.

This week was hard for us because our nanny got sick and was infected with Covid-19, also our family and our baby Ysabella. Thank God she is out of the woods. Anyway to all of you anime lovers out there I am sure you are very familiar with this popular anime. It is about a high-school student who is good with his deductive skills that he is able to solve crimes, his name is Shinichi Kudo, also known as Conan Edogawa. This is the name that he adopted when he became a little boy because of the pills that he swallowed from criminals he met at Tropical Island.

I am such a fan now of this anime. I even ordered an action figure which I put on top of my office printer. The live action movie and series, together with the anime has made me sane and busy this isolation period of ours. I also bought Sherlock cap and trench coat, with Detective Conan items ranging from id lace, notebook, plush toy, cellphone case, keychain, ballpen and couple action figure of Sinichi and Ran. I also bought a notebook, mug and other Detective Conan items. 

(P.S. Today, our baby turned 11 months old!)

Book and Film Review: Memoirs of a Geisha

   (Disclaimer: I do not mean to offend people with this post of mine, especially the Japanese reader of this blog. Since this blog is mainly about Japanese culture, and my experiences. I just want to share the book and the film that I have seen. The book is classified as non-fiction, so it is not really a true account or story. )

This is one of the first Western (Hollywood) movie that has  Japanese theme. From the title alone you have an idea already. It stars top Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi, and a Japanese actor named Ken Watanabe. I have seen the movie twice, and as you can see from the photo I also own the book. According to Wikipedia, the film was produce by Steven Spielberg. I love the cinematography (a few scenes were shot in Japan), and also the story line, if you are into drama and romance genre. The movie is about a geisha's personal life, before and after World War II.

According to my research there is a lot of controversy with regards to the showing of this movie in some countries like China where it was banned, there's also a controversy with regards to the author of this movie, Arthur Golden, and the one that he interviewed as a resource person for his book, a retired geisha by the name of Mineko Iwasaki. I doubt if this book has given justice to what a geisha is, because it portrays the life of a geisha in a different way, and kinda scandalous way. True to life movies, I noticed, the story is not that faithful to the original, also this is what you expect from Hollywood movies. It is better that you get a non-fiction book about geishas, don't based their real life in this book/movie,

Movie Review: Sweet Bean (あん, An)

      

I really love this movie! This movie diverts from the usual popular movies plot, like romance, action, and suspense films. It falls into the drama category, and sort of a slice of life film. It is also a good film, and has an advocacy awareness. So it is really worth watching.

    This film is about a man who manages a small dorayaki shop. (What is dorayaki? It is a pancake that is filled with sweetened red-bean paste), and about an elderly woman who wants to work in his shop. This story evolves around them, and a young student customer who frequents the shop. The story line is very simple yet it can tug the strings in our hearts. I also love the portrayal of Kirin Kiki 樹木 希林 , a Japanese actress who is popular for her elderly or grandmother roles. If you love food,  you will also enjoy watching this movie. I really recommend this movie for everyone to watch.  This is one of the notable Japanese movie in the food genre, life, and drama that you really need to see.