top ranking

1. 8.7 Mystic River
2. 8.6 Last Samurai
2. 8.6 Meet Joe Black
4. 8.5 The Lord of the Rings -the return of the kings-
5. 8.0 Sleepers
6. 7.5 Moulin Rouge
7. 6.3 Kill Bill vol.1
8. 6.2 Love Actually
9. 6.1 Innosence
10. 6.0 I, Robot

■ Million Dollar Baby (2004) 02/20/05 @chicago 6.0 points

[synopsis]:

[comments]: i saw this with my american friend at a theater in chicago. until then, i avoided to go to theater because i was afraid not to understand fully the contents without subtitles. fortunately my friend explained what was going on from time to time and i neber had any difficulties in seeing. and then what i got is that it could be happening especially the younger that people in the country side here in US are sometime surrounded by hopeless, depressing feeling, ending up seeking the meaning of life or his/her relation with the world. this kind of feeling is very complicated and difficult to me as a foreigner, however very interesting.

[impressive phrases]:

■ Love Actually (2003) 02/19/05 @chicago 6.2 points

[synopsis]: Set almost entirely in London, England during five frantic weeks before Christmas follows a web-like pattern of a dozen or more various individuals with their love lives, or lack of them as follows:
　The central character is the new bachelor prime minister David (Hugh Grant) who cannot express his growing feelings for his new personal assistant Natalie (Martine McCutcheon).
　The prime minister's older sister Karen (Emma Thompson) slowly grows aware of her husband Harry's (Alan Rickman) flirtation with an office worker named Mia (Heike Makatsch).
　Karen's friend Daniel (Liam Neeson) is a recently widowed writer whose 11-year-old son asks for love advice about a girl he has a crush on.
　Jamie (Colin Firth) is another writer who leaves his girlfriend after catching her cheating on him and travels to France to write a novel where he pursues a possible romance with his non-English speaking Portuguese maid Aurelia (Lucia Moniz).
　Harry's American secretary Sarah (Laura Linney) questions a romance she pursues with the office hunk Karl (Rodrigo Santoro), but her personal family problems get in the way.

[comments]: When i saw this for the first time, i was a little confused because there are a lot of story going at the same time, related to each other. Basically, all the stories end happiliy and cheered me up. No more or less than that.

[impressive phrases]: We may be a small country but we're a great one, too. The country of Shakespeare, Churchill, the Beatles, Sean Connery, Harry Potter. David Beckham's right foot. David Beckham's left foot, come to that. And a friend who bullies us is no longer a friend. And since bullies only respond to strength, from now onward, I will be prepared to be much stronger. And the President should be prepared for that. (by the prime minister of England [Hugh Grant] to the president of the united states)

■ Wimbldon (2004) 02/15/05 @chicago 5.2 points

[synopsis]: A pro tennis player, who was in the top players once, has lost his ambition and has fallen in rank to 119. Fortunately for him, he meets a young player(Kirsten Dunst) on the women's circuit who helps him recapture his focus for Wimbledon.

[comments]: This is nothing for me because, when I decide to see this movie, I expected to see the skillful and exciting tennis game in the movie. Unfortunately, this was just a love commedy and there were many strange motion of the players, comparing to the real top-ranked players. I was disappointed so much, even though I am a big fun of Kirsten Dunst.

[impressive phrases]: none

■ Kokakukidotai2 "innosence" (2004) 02/07/05 @chicago 6.1 points

[synopsis]: Bato is a living cyborg. His whole body, even his arms and legs, are entirely man-made. What only remains are traces of his brain. In an era when the boundary between humans and machines has become infinitely vague, Humans have forgotten that they are humans. This is the debauchery of the lonesome ghost of a man, who nevertheless seeks to retain humanity. Innocence... is what life is.

[comments]: This is very similar to I, robot. The theme is about the boundary b/w human and robot in the near future. Maybe we have to think about it when it comes true that we use robots well. I could not find out the solution to that question in the movie because what the director really want to tell us is totally wrapped up and I could not penetrate it. More further, Bato, the main character, speaks a lot of difficult Japanese proverbs such as follows in the impressive phrases...

[impressive phrases]: You cry for bird's blood, but not for fish's blood. Fortunate for ones with voice. If the dolls also had voices, they would have screamed, "I didn't want to become human."

■ Last Samurai (2003) many times @chicago 8.6 points

[synopsis]: In Japan, Civil War veteran Captain Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) trains the Emperor's troops to use modern weapons as they prepare to defeat the last of the country's samurais led by Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe). But Algren's passion is swayed when he is captured by the samurai and learns about their traditions and code of honor, which is Bushido!.

[comments]: This is tremendous and very impressive movie, even though there are a couple of points that is not consistent with the true history. Honestly speaking, I really want to thank Tom Cruise for his interest in Japan, ending up the creation of this huge epic movie. Just as a Japanese, I am very proud that such a high-ranked person in Hollywood initiated in this movie. And Ken Watanabe's act is also splendid. His act was no less good than previous Best Supporting Actors of Academy Award.

[impressive phrases]: Your highness... if you believe me to be your enemy, command me, and I will gladly take my life.(Tom Cruise)

■ I, Robot (2004) 01/31/2005 @chicago 6.0 points

[synopsis]: Set in a future Earth (2035 A.D.) where robots are common assistants and workers for their human owners, this is the story of "robotophobic" Chicago Police Detective, John Spooner's (Will Smith), investigation into the murder of Dr. Alfred Lanning (James Cromwell), who works at U.S. Robotics, in which a robot, Sonny (Tudyk), appears to be implicated, even though that would mean the robot had violated the 3 Laws of Robotics, which is apparently impossible. It seems impossible because, if robots can break those laws, there's nothing to stop them from taking over the world. Aiding Spooner in his investigation is a psychologist, Dr. Susan Calvin (Moynahan), who specializes in the psyches of robots.

[comments]: I have already seen a lot of robot movies. Among them, I remember well about Bicentennial Man(starred by Robin Williams, 1999) because of its magnificence. I could not stop sobbing when I finished that movie. Comparing with Bicentennial Man, it is imavoidable that i would say this i, robot is not as good as that. i am afraid that i do not fully understand this movie becasue i saw this without english subtitles, which usually I rely on. However, one thing I really want to tell is the location of this movie is Chicago! In the movie there are many familiar buildings, including Sears tower and John hancock cneter. There should be my apartment, too, but I could not check, yet.

[impressive phrases]:
Law I / A robot may not harm a human or, by inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
Law II / A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the first law.
Law III / A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the first or second law

■ Kill Bill vol.1 (2003)　　11/02/2004 ＠chicago (cable)　　6.3 points

[synopsis]: The Deadly Viper Assassination Squad consists of five most deadly killers, led by Bill. In the squad is O'Ren-Ishii, main victim of this vol.1 and there is The Bride aka black mamba,who wanted to quit because she was pregnant. In the her wedding, Bill and her former colleagues showed up and killed everyone there. But they did not do a good enough job: The Bride survives, barely, and is in a coma for four years. One day, The Bride awakens. For her, not a second has consciously passed, and after she realizes all the things that have happened, The Bride decides to take bloody revenge. On each single one of those who betrayed her. First on her death list is O'Ren-Ishii, who has become the yakuza boss of Tokyo. The Bride sets out to take back what was once hers: Her life.

[comments]: this movie has a kind of mixed sense of american and japanese tastes. for me, a japanese, this reminded me of life in tokyo and was very impressive because even though two of main characters are actually american, Uma and Lucy Liu, they mainly speaks japanese and those sayings were very interesting and worth hearing for. the only thing i was a little disappointed was i felt lack of technichless all over the film and even though it was made so intentionally by the director, i a little regret.

[impressive phrases]: 'i have a vermin to kill.（斬りたい鼠がいるから）' 'attack me with everything you have.（かかってきな、全力でね）'

■ mona lisa smile (2003)　　10/26/2004 ＠chicago (cable)　　5.5 points

honestly speaking, i just could not understand the producer of this movie wanted to say ever though at last scene i sobbed. but one thing i was impressed with was that the location was in west to boston and when i saw this, i actually felt it was boston. i would like to say julia roberts did good job. a girl called bettey in this movie is the same girl who played the heroine in spiderman, but i do not know her name so far.

the impressive phrases: 'you can do both!' 'not everything is as it seems.'

■ meet joe black (1998)　　10/12/2004 ＠chicago (cable)　　8.5 points

this is splendid. brad pitt played well in a wonderful way to express what the death wanna do in the real world.

the impressive phrases: 'what i know is what i want. and what i want is susan!' 'would you mind if i express my garatitude for you.'

■ mystic river (2003)　　09/20/2004 ＠chicago (dvd)　　8.7 points

this is based on the famous novel and crint eastwood created this following that novel. the point makes this movie excellent is that we can not predict the ending when the time is coming. in short this was very hard to predict unlike other suspense movies.

the impressive phrases: 'admit what you did, dave!'

■ スリーパーズ （1996年公開）　　03/07/2004 ＠自宅(DVD)　　8.0点

　僕がこの映画をみて感じたのは「一体感」がもたらす幸福感と無限の可能性である。
　映画の中に出てくる４人は、少年時代、少年院時代、その後、と様々な境遇を共有するが、そのいずれにおいても全く結束が揺らがなかったことが凄い。
　共に悪戯した少年時代や４人でいたからこそ乗り越えられた少年院時代もさることながら、その後それぞれ全く違う道を選んだにもかかわらず、心の深層では「復讐」という意識が（無意識のうちに）共有され、さらにはそれぞれの立場を活用し大きな成果（殺人の無罪放免）を得るに至る。
　殺人が無実になってしまうということ自体の是非は別として（私自身は、結構肯定的にとらえてしまったりする）、無罪が確定し４人（+１）で行った「最後の晩餐」を見ると、「一体感」によって彼らは幸福を獲得し、さらには１×４＝４以上となる可能性も示されている。
　この「一体感」は「赤信号皆で渡れば怖くない」とか、「サッカー日本代表を応援するときの愛国心」とかに似ていると思う。人は個人でも生きていけるが、なんらかの組織に帰属することで、より自分の（社会における）ポジションを把握しやすくなる。それがある種の幸福感につながり、人はその幸福感に報いるためにはキャパ以上の力を（時には個を犠牲にする形となっても）発揮しうる。すなわち、果ては国家や軍隊から仕事上のプロジェクトチーム、家族、恋人関係に至るまでこの「一体感」が成功の鍵なのである。
　この映画の評価としては、個人的には上記の事を認識するに至っただけでもなかなか良かったのではないかと思うし、皆さんにもそういった視点で分析しながら観ていただければと思う。
　キャストは百花繚乱という感じ（ロハ゛ート・テ゛ニーロ、ケヒ゛ン・ヘ゛ーコン、タ゛スティン・ホフマン、フ゛ラット゛・ヒ゜ット等）でこの点だけでも観る価値はあり。

■ ムーランルージュ(Moulin Rouge) （2001年公開）　　03/07/2004 ＠自宅（DVD）　　7.5点

　　「人生最高のことは、人を愛すること。そして愛されること」
　この映画が伝えたかったことはこれに尽きる。私自身もこの台詞に感銘をうけた。しかし、自分が真に好きな人にめぐり合ったときに、何があっても相手を愛するには、最低限のお金が必要だと実感した。
　ラブストーリーを観て、何故「お金」の必要性を実感したかというと、この映画の中で、愛し合う男女が夢の為に必要なお金を得るために、気持ちを押し殺してお金がある人のもとに行く場面があったからだ。
　確かに上の台詞のように、愛することは人生においてかけがえのないことだと思うし、愛する人を大切にしようと思うが、恋愛ばかりが全てではない。恋愛と同様に、自分の生活や夢など大切なものは沢山ある。人生最高のことは、恋愛以外にも沢山ある。
　それを全て満たしていくことが人生最高のことだと思われる。何かのために何かを犠牲にしたくない。そうはいっても、万が一夢が愛かの究極の選択を迫られた時に、自分の才能がなくて夢などを諦めるならまだしも、お金が無いために愛を捨ててしまうのは耐え難い。そう何度もめぐり合わない大切な人をなるべく大切にしていきたい。
　そのために回避できることは、なるべく回避していこうとおもった。
　この映画は、ラブストーリーだったが、何故か「仕事を頑張ってお金を稼ごう！」という気がおきた映画だった・・・・
　注）勘違いしないで、いただきたいのは、別に億万長者になろう！と思っているわけではありません。好きな人とお互いが満足できるぐらいのお金が手元を稼げればいいのです。
　ちなみに私はMourlinをMulanと全面的に間違っていた・・・私の英語もまだまだだと思った・・・（涙）

■ Lord Of The Ring 3 -王の帰還-　（2004年春公開）　　02/28/2004 ＠六本木ヒルス゛　　8.5点

　シリーズ１、２を見た私にとっては、３を見ることはある種義務みたいなものでした。
　この映画で第一にして唯一の注目すべき点は最新のク゛ラフィックスを駆使した映像の美しさでしょう。これは回を重ねるごとにその精度を増していき、３ではかなり魅とれてしまいました。
　ただストーリーとしては、フロドが指輪を捨てた後がダレダレになってしまったり、３作品合わせて10時間以上かけてやっと辿りついたはずの指輪を捨てるべき火山の場面でも、結局フロドは最後の最後で指輪に人格をノッとられてしまい、ゴラムの強襲（外部要因）によってドタバタのうちにポロっと落ちちゃったり。さらに、ゴンドールの王都のミナス・ティリス（？）での攻防のときには、アラゴルンが明らかに反則な感じの幽霊部隊を引き連れてきたときは、「なんだかなぁ」って感じが館内に蔓延してしまったりと、ファンタジー物には得てしてつきものな稚拙さが散見されます。
　それでも、十分満足できる（8.5点）のは、やはり多々あるストーリー上の欠陥を補って余りある映像の秀麗さとダイナミズムだと思います。この映画は、あまり深く考えず、スクリーン全体を漫然と見ながら映像を楽しむという、言わばリラクゼーションの為の「環境ビデオ」みたいなものかもしれません。
　配役的には、１でブレイクしたオーランド・ブルーム（その後、２と３の間にパイレーツオブカリビアンに出演）を輩出したことに大いなる意義があると思いますが、主人公のイライジャ・ウッドをはじめ他の俳優にはあまり関心はありません。（しかしガンダルフは英でかなり有名らしい。）