The Films Of Arashi

I have time on my hands and so i'm going to delve into the title of this blog, its the name of a film with all the Members of Arashi (who are a japanese J pop band but have to many fingers in many pies. They collectily act in plays, dramas, films, have three weekly variety shows, present the news, advertise many many products, and seem to bring out a new single every week, and one of them is a really good artist) I first heard of them through Szujane (Thanks Szujane!!)

' Pikanchi Life is Hard Dakedo (but) happy' (2002) follows 5 friends who live in an apartment complex in Tokyo and the events that happen to them. There's no strong narritive but just little stories and events that happen to them. It's a pretty funny film and it has a sequel too called 'Pikanchi Life Is Hard Dakedo (therefore) Happy' (2004) but I haven't seen it yet. (Still trying to find a good place to download it).

I base a good film on weather (spelling) i would show it to my parents where i can really arrogently say that i have never shown them a bad film. The next two fall in this category. They only have one more film together called, 'Yellow Tears' (2007) which I really really reccomend. Its a genuinely great film and i really want to own it on DVD.



Its set in the 60's post war Japan where it follows 4 of the members (the 5th has a minor part). It covers a summer where these friends stay together. Eisuke Muraoka wants to be a manga artist (Kazunari Ninomiya), Ryūsan Mukai wants to be a writer (Sho Sakurai), Shōichi Inoue wants to be a musician (Aiba Masaki) and Kei Shimokawa wants to be an artist (Ohno Satoshi). They struggle for money and try to get by while trying to make in in their chosen field. The acting is really good and the director is too. Again its a film without a strong plot with lots of little events but i really totally reccomend it. I'm not a very good reviewer but i hope that you do watch it (Its like i'm trying to tell you somehitng....)

Another film is called 'Ao no Honoo' (The blue flame)

This stars just Kazunari Ninomiya so isn't really An Araishi film but its so good and needs to be seen. It is a pretty dark film and a quieter film like Yellow tears . I'm lazy so Wiki saves me:

'Shūichi Kushimori is a 17-year-old high school student who lives happily with his mother and stepsister.
One day, without warning, his estranged stepfather returns home from a long absence. He quickly falls into a circle of drinking and starts abusing his ex-wife and daughter.
When he begins making what appear to be sexual advances towards Shūichi’s stepsister, Shūichi feels compelled to take matters into his own hands.
Based on Yūsuke Kishi's novel of the same name.'

I don't want to spoil it as if you can muster up the energy to find it (it does exist online but failing that ebay) you will not be dissapointed. Ninomiya is really good actor and was one of the main characters in 'Letters from Iwo Jima' by good old Clint Eastwood. He's also in the film of Gantz film (its a manga) which looks really good.

I couldn't find a trailer that i liked so again a fan video will have to do : ) Its has spoilers actally hopefully it will spur you seeing the film...



And Another : )



FYI, the music for the last video is by a Korean band Called Epik High and is well worth checking out. I like this one by them called 'FAN'.




You can tell how my brain works with this post.... ^_^