SEX IS ZERO

SEX IS ZERO
Saekjeuk shigong

Director: Yoon Je-kyoon

Starring: Chang-jeong as the looser high school student that has no real friends, but still get the girlfriend. And the beautiful Ha Ji-won as the girl.

Screen date (Kor): 2002

Date seen: 11.07.08
Reviewed by: neko

Trailer:

Review: I had read that this movie was American Pie – only Korean and sooo much better. I enjoy both Korean movies and high school comedies, so of course I was interested.

Nothing bad said about Korean culture, but how can a movie that brought 4 million Koreans to the cinemas in 2002 – making it the 5th most popular film the same year – be so horrifyingly bad??!

I won’t go into detail about the plot, because there’s not much to say. The whole film is embarrassingly filled with no content what so ever. This is an absolute waste of my time, and I actually had to turn the movie off when I was halfway trough.

The only plausible reason I’d ever recommend this film, is that Korean girls are really pretty. And there’s lots of them here, as in every high school film. If you think that’s worth wasting 96 minutes of your life for – then be my guest.

In words: High-School, Korean, sex IS zero, Avoid at all cost.

Reminds me of: Of course I see the parallels to American Pie, but this is in a class way below even the horrid American Pie 3.

Trivia: I didn’t bother looking for one.

Buy: From YesAsia. At least you get it cheap and with free worldwide shipping…
Or buy it from Amazon here.

KAMIKAZE GIRLS

KAMIKAZE GIRLS
Shimotsuma Monogatari

Director: Tetsuya Nakashima
Starring: Kyoko Fukada as the fabolous Momoko Ryugasaki, and Anna Tsuchiya as the rude Ichigo “Ichiko” Shirayuri.
Screen date (Jap): 2004

Date seen: 10.07.08
Reviewed by: neko

Trailer:

Review: Adapted from Novala Takemoto’s novel with the same name, Tetsuya Nakashima gives us Kamikaze Girls. The film tell the tale of two completely different girls that becomes friends – despite all odds. Heard the story before? So have I. It’s always difficult to give an old story something new. We’ve seen this so many times, that by now the story is on the limit to boredom.

But Nakashima is definitely a guy who can work magic! He delivers a heart-breaking comedy with a good story to tell. Underneath the happy-go-lucky ever-expanding momentum of this great Japanese comedy, there is an important story waiting to be told. The story is one that we need to be reminded of, even tough it has been told so many times before. And when it comes with this magnificent gift wrapping, it’s hard not to be curious.

If you don’t really care much for contents, this film works just as well any day of the week, the above mentioned gift wrapping is one of the best I’ve seen in Japanese films lately.

In words: Rococco, Lolita, Bōsōzoku (Motorcycle Gang), Mopeds, Low-time gangsters, Embroidery, Japanese, Rural-town, Soundtrack of the year, Lovely filming, Great characters, Superb story.

Reminds me of: Amélie (in parts).

Trivia: “Baby, The Stars Shine Bright“, a boutique in which the character Momoko’s life revolves around, is actually established and run by the author of the novel Kamikaze Girls. Free advertisement, how convenient.

And be sure to get a hold of the original soundtrack, you’ll love it!

Buy: From YesAsia, with free worldwide shipping!
Or Amazon if you prefeer that.