zen Posted November 21 Author Share Posted November 21 The Wind Rises (2013, Japanese) 1/2 This would have been the last feature length film by Miyazaki if he hadn’t come out of the retirement to direct the Boy and the Heron (2023). This is another different type of Studio Ghibli film based on Miyazaki’s own Manga. It is relatively serious and “fantasy” moments are usually in dreams. This is a historical drama telling the fictionalized account of a Japanese aeronautical engineer. I like that Thomas Mann’s “Magic Mountain” is discussed in it. Now-a-days, I seem to prefer relatively serious Studio Ghibli films such as Grave of the Fireflies (directed by Isao Takahata), The Wind Rises, and The Boy and the Heron (all three have been rated/reviewed here). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zen Posted November 23 Author Share Posted November 23 (edited) North by Northwest (1959) This is a widely popular Hitchcock film that was probably like “a Bond film before the Bond films”. The film has a great cast with Cary Grant as the person suffering because of a mistaken identity. Eva Marie Saint is his love interest. James Mason plays the sophisticated “Bond” villain. Martin Landau works well as the henchman. The cinematography is cool. And the score by Hitchcock’s regular Bernard Herrmann adds to the experience. More than the story, the film is about going from one suspenseful sequence to other (in a more or less lighthearted fashion): the set up -> the train -> the crop duster -> the auction -> the memorable finale at Mt. Rushmore. On its 65th anniversary this year, the film was restored and released in 4K. It is a gorgeous transfer which makes the film shine more. This film too is a part of my collection! Edited November 25 by zen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zen Posted November 23 Author Share Posted November 23 PS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zen Posted November 26 Author Share Posted November 26 https://youtu.be/BINW4bd1DrY?feature=shared Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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