Drive

Japan, 2002
Director: SABU

an uptight salaryman’s ordered, punctual world is punctured when his car is highjackked by 3 bank robbers in pursuit of their wheelman, who has fled the scene with the money.

the characters are so interesting and fun to watch you don’t mind the improbable plot–and, anyway, it’s a comedy.

SABU mixes genre conventions (comedy, horror, and action) to punctuate the internal state of the characters. it’s a journey into how these characters think, and why. it’s a movie that has strong opinions (and sometimes they are cliques) but doesn’t preach. it has a scattering of themes: fate, duty, greed, redemption.

but enough of the psychological. it is an extremely entertaining movie, funny and whimsical.

and there’s a scene in a punk rock show that is not to be missed.

Hero

I saw Hero in Union Square on Saturday night with K and her boyfriend S. midnight show.

We did a big walgreens run and got Cokes and chips and cookies. So much food in the backpack.

it’s a beautiful movie.

there are themes here that probably resonate better in Asia, especially China. loyalty, and sacrifice of self or even one’s ideals for the sake of the country.

the plot is a bit tough to follow, with so many reiterations of the same basic action.The strong use of color helps you keep things straight. Even so I had trouble in the green section–comatose from too much sugar, I drifted asleep for a bit.

there was some laughter from the crowd, who came for a martial arts epic and couldn’t quite sort out the more introspective philosophical take on life and love.

it’s a great cast–tony leung and maggie cheung are a great pairing. zhang ziyi is of course, beautiful, but has such great facial control… no need for words with her. and i’m a big donnie chen fan. jet li is overshadowed but holds up well enough.

Miramax added a short explanatory prologue, and maybe a bit extra on thr subtitles at the end. not too invasive. Of course they sat on this film for so long. Most chinese in the usa have already seen it, on dvd or vcd.

We had a nice chat about the film on the way home.

overall though, this film did not have the same emotional punch as crouching tiger.

Azumi

Azumi is a Japanese summer blockbuster, done Hollywood-style. But done in Japan. Director Ryuhei Kitamura obviously loves big action movies, and he’s staking a claim to the action movie that has been dominated by Hollywood imports.

Azumi is one of ten young warriors raised in seclusion by a sword fighting master to be assassins. Based on the eponymous manga, it’s a tale of young warriors finally graduating into the life for which they’ve been trained, and how they deal with it.

As a manga adaptation, it is by necessity over the top. That’s half the fun–and the villains of the story are richly over the top. But the lead character is played straight. Pop star Aya Ueto’s portrayal of Azumi is strong and grave. It provides a emotional anchor to the movie which keeps it from descending into camp.

The action sequences are fast and furious, with sword thrusts and spurting blood aplenty. The action direction is pretty good, and director Kitamura adds his signature flair.

All in all, an enjoyable, fun romp of an action movie.

August 18, 8th Annual Asian Film Festival
Four Star Theater, San Francisco.
945pm

Glacial Running

Went for a standard 3.2 mile run this morning. I was moving soooo slowly. Almost immediately I felt pain in my ankles and my left knee felt a little soft.

But I ran it, slowing to a walking pace only a couple times.

It was not a stellar run, by any means, but I got out there, and I think my pace on the way back in was not bad at all.

I did get passed alot, which I hate to admit.

Big guy in brown t-shirt (UPS?) was just hauling down the left sidewalk. He passed me easily and had already turned around at Park Presidio and made his way back a couple blocks. But it doesn’t matter.

Bow-legged poor form running asian girl (12?) passed me at a trot. She had terrible form though. But it doesn’t matter.

It doesn’t matter because I got my butt out the door, the sun is shining, and I am a runner today.

I think I’ll take more time to warm up and stretch when I run in the mornings, though. And I may need to get a new pair of shoes.

The Foliage

Saw this today. The print didn’t have English subtitles, but I went to see it anyway. Shu Qi doesn’t get much credit for her acting, but I think she earns it here. The attraction between her and the cadre leader is obvious. There are some real tense moments in this story, and its not overplayed at all.

The Creative Habit, by Twyla Tharp

This is what I’m reading right now.

She talks about reading as a source of creativity–the raw materials of new ideas. She quotes Mark Twain — “The person who does not read has no advantage over the person who cannot read.” Nice.

Kaena

Kaena: The Prophesy was a disappointment. I didn’t look too hard at the poster, but I figured I’d give a French animated film a chance. Bah.

The subtitle (and sad to see the it also in the French original) adds nothing. There’s a prophecy, but it doesn’t have the dramatic tension of even the Old Testament. Its just–see girl, learn of prophesy, “hey, she’s the one!” And the fact that there was a prophesy really didn’t even play into the story–other than being the flimsy reason for an alien to trust a human.

Poor story telling.

The scenario writers should go back and read some of the Old Testament prophesies. At least they benefit from the King James English. (or French)

Nice special effects, but they don’t amount to much without a story. And what’s with the fade outs? It felt like you ran out of film, or tried to edit, which is a disaster when you are rendering your scenes.

I wondered if peeps from Pixar and Dreamworks Animation were in the theater. You know, out of professional curiosity. If they did, I bet they went home not too worried about the French animation industry.

Still, the CG was impressive. Just gotta find a story.

Ok, done rambling.

[ Kaena: The Prophecy, 9:15pm, Red Vic ]

Mountain Lake Loop

Ran the regular route, down Lake. at Park Presidio hit a red light, so looped instead around Mountain Lake and under the overpass to the hospital. Then back on 30th and back.

I started at 6:15pm. I was in a hurry to get back by 7pm. Made it by 6:58.

I’m still pretty slow, and I took the leg out as a warmup. Felt good running the way back, and started to stretch out a bit for the last 8 blocks. I could have run more.

3.2 miles.

It was super misty-foggy. I don’t think people who live elsewhere actually know what real fog is.

Misty run through the Presidio

7:20 to 8:23pm.

guessing about 5 miles.

in the twilight, heavy fog. a great cooling mist.

I ran down Lake to 30th, swung down El Camino Del Mar and the down Lincoln into the Presidio. Ran through the Baker Beach parking lot, where 5-6 boys on scooters hailed the 29 bus, but then didn’t get on. Their ringleader had a gasoline powered scooter. He said something as I ran by, but I have no idea what.

Ran up Pershing Drive, and then had to cut through the Presidio volunteers area. Pershing is a steep hill–I’d be better off going one more street to the zig-zag up… Washington Drive. Anyway, up Wedermeyer to Washington (past the California Quail crossing sign) and then really started to hit my stride. I lengthened my stride all across the Presidio, and then headed into the woods on the dirt trail. Out by the golf course and down Arguello back to Lake and 4th Ave.

I listened to a mix of Snow Patrol and Ambulance, which is actually great running music. I’m hooked on a Snow Patrol song called “Run”. Listened to it twice during the run.

I think that was about a 5 mile run. Pretty happy. Showertime.

Oh, I started with the new Ascics shoes with the arch supports. Hated it. Turned around at 9th avenue and came back for my Brooks. Need to figure that out.