Reviews

Although I've been a fan of the original Battlestar Galactica and thought no one could replace Lorne Greene (Adama) or Robert Hatch (Apollo), I sat down to watch the SciFi channel offering and was instantly hooked into the remake of this classic series. Though there were some considerable changes in presentation (the documentary-like camera work) and gritty nature of the dramatic portrayals, it was all for the better.

Edward James Olmos in the role of Commander William Adama brings to the small screen the kind of quiet militaristic authority lacking from Lorne Greene's performance, and though there's a certain amount of loyalty I have for the original, I cannot deny the power performance of Olmos in this role. Olmos' Adama is realistic, powerful, and believable; not to be discounted in any objective sense of viewing this miniseries. Olmos is an outstanding actor; a master of his craft, and to see this mastery at work in a series like Galactica is something this show required to be a hit. With Olmos at the center, his raised the bar of acting for the rest of the cast, and it shows. Jamie Bamber's Captain Lee "Apollo" Adama was equal to the task of carrying on the character and it showed in his interaction toward Olmos in every scene. That level was previously unseen in his other offerings (Band of Brothers, Horatio Hornblower). Mary McDonnell's character of the ailing President Laura Roslin removed that weird triple authority from Adama (who was President in the original series) and gave it a better foil to the military leader of William Adama as a civilian leader, creating a better character conflict that was lacking.

This example of outstanding acting brought to life an incredible script put together by Ronald D. Moore (Star Trek [TNG/DS9/VOY], Roswell, Mission: Impossible II) and revived the best parts of an already fantastic series. It is my sincere hope that the SciFi Channel will produce Galactica in a weekly one-hour format, and if they keep Olmos, I would watch every week to see if they reach the fabled world of Earth.

Out of the three parts of the Robotech story, the Macross Saga is considered by many fans to be the best part of the story. Robotech: Battlecry places you in the hands of a Veritech fighter and gives you the persona of a Corporal Jack Archer (voiced by Cam Clarke, the voice of Max Sterling and Lancer). As Corporal Archer, you must complete missions that run concurrent to the storyline of the Macross Saga. The first mission, for example, puts you and your squadron in the midst of a dogfight with Zentraedi forces attempting to shoot down the Sea Sergeants shown in the first episode of the series. As the missions progess, so does the old storyline.

You'll recognize some old friends from time to time; Rick Hunter, Roy Fokker, Lynn Minmei and Lisa Hayes (all voiced by their original actors). New friends include Izzy Randal (voiced by Rebecca Forstadt, aka Reba West, the voice of Lynn Minmei), and Helena Chase (voiced by Melora Harte, the voice of Musica from the New Generation saga). The immersion of old and new characters complete the sense of living through the story and remembering a childhood favorite in a completely different way.

Robotech: Battlecry will take you all the way to the end of the saga, with a twist, and in spite of it all, you'll want to play this game again and again. A must for all Robotech fans.

Growing up in poverty often fuels the ambition of a person to pull themselves out and into a life of financial security. Thus we begin the story of Yamato Nadeshiko, about a flight attendant who wants nothing more than to find her happiness in the arms of the richest man she can attract. The flight attendant, Jinno Sakurako is portrayed by none other than the always amazing Matsushima Nanako (GTO, Majo no Joken, Hyaku-nen no monogatari). The poverty-stricken, yet mathematically brilliant seafood merchant Nakahara Osuke is played by the stage actor Tsutsumi Shinichi.

Nakahara is a Harvard graduate, who had the world at his fingertips until his father died, leaving his mother to fend for herself. Rather than pursuing a career in America, he returns to Japan to assume proprietorship of the seafood shop, to make ends meet for the both of them. In the process of attaining his degree, his fiancee (who bears an identical face to that of Jinno/Matsushima Nanako) leaves him, citing that he was more in love with numbers than with her. Ten years later, he meets Jinno at a party where his friends lie about his occupation (they claim he is a doctor with a successful private practice), and through clever misunderstandings, Sakurako does her best to make sure Nakahara falls for her in kind. The fine line between truth and fantasy is tread by Nakahara, and therein lies the story.

While the premise is not as enrapturing as others, it is really the chemistry between Matsushima and Tsutsumi that drives this story, as well as the comical supporting actors such as Kakei Toshio and Nishimura Masahiko. Tokimeiki Memorial's Yada Akiko provides the third side of the story's love triangle, as Sakurako's kohai (junior) flight attendant, who falls for Nakahara despite his financial status.

Twelve episodes long, Yamato Nadeshiko will prove itself to be a stubborn and annoying story that will eventually win you over with good character drama in the end.

From the writer of the popular drama Long Vacation, comes a tale of a talented hair stylist and a librarian living with a handicap, set against the backdrop of Aoyama. Bringing these two characters to life and together are the one-two angst punch of Kimura Takuya (from Long Vacation, in the role of Okishima Shuji, the stylist), and Tokiwa Takako (from Utsukushi Hito, in the role of Machida Kyoko). Appearing in supporting roles are Mizuno Miki (currently starring in Hatsu Taiken, she portrayed Kyoko's best friend Tamura Sachi), Ikeuchi Hiroyuki (from GTO [Drama], in the role of Shuji's kohai [junior] Okabe Takumi), and the most memorable performance within this series comes from actor Watabe Atsuro, playing Kyoko's younger brother Masao.

Machida Kyoko and Okishima Shuji have a chance encounter in the streets of Aoyama. With a carelessly outstretched hand from the window of her car, she nearly knocks Shuji from his motorcycle. After a terse exchange, they find that they have ac ommon destination; the library where Kyoko is employed. Following another short exchange, Kyoko's handicap is revealed in a rather gentle way, and our story unfolds.

This series lasts eleven episodes and will not fail to tickle your funny bone from the start, then begin tugging at your heart until the very end. Keep a box of tissue handy, as the depth of these characters are superbly potrayed by this cast, not to mention the realism of the story masterfully written by Kitagawa Eriko. This was the highest rated drama in its season in Japan, and the last episode kept them talking for quite a while after.

Matsushima Nanako (GTO, Yamato Nadeshiko, Hyaku-nen no monogatari) and teen heartthrob Takizawa Hideaki (Strawberry on the Shortcake, Antique) bring to life a love story between a high school teacher and one of her students.

Hirose Michi (Matsushima) is the daughter of an influential educator, and uses that influence to attain the position of a high school teacher despite her age and inexperience. Kurosawa Hikaru (Takizawa) is the son of Kyoko (played by Kuroki Hitomi), a very wealthy hospital director. Hikaru finds his life is already planned out by his controlling mother, who has placed the burden of running the hospital squarely upon his shoulders. Rather than accepting that burden, Hikaru rebels in his own way, causing trouble from high school to high school, until he ends up transferring into Hirose-sensei's class. His past and demeanor cause Hirose to become interested in him, until that interest turns from professional to personal.

While Matsushima seems to find herself in either teaching or flight attendant roles, this particular role is an amazing departure from the role of Fuyutsuki-sensei in Great Teacher Onizuka. Her range as an accomplished actor is established with Majo no Joken, and is carried on later in Yamato Nadeshiko. Fans of drama series will find her to be atop their list of actors to watch out for, along with Tokiwa Takako and Matsu Tatako. This series hits the basic concepts of Japanese society and the strict upbringing within it to light, while also showing the nature and consequences of non-conformity in that society. Majo no Joken was the number two drama in its season, and rightly so.

Sorimachi Takashi and Esumi Makiko are the two big stars that draw attention to this wonderful 12-part television series about two complete strangers forming a strong friendship whilst pursuing lifelong happiness with other people.

Kasahara Natsuki (played by Esumi) is a thirty-year old hairdresser in Tokyo, with a self-esteem problem. Contributing to her problem is one of her housemates, Tsurumachi Fuyumi (played by Ishida Yuriko [the voice of San, from Mononoke Hime]), who is a bubble-headed beauty in the middle of an affair with her boss. While on a trip to Sapporo for the 2000 New Year's celebration, she meets Kaede Soichirou (Sorimachi), a newpaper photographer, after being locked out of her hotel room. Thinking it a chance encounter, she returns to Tokyo, and during an omiei (marriage matchmaking) meeting, Soichirou arrives as the friend of the man she was going to meet. Due to interference from Fuyumi, she runs out of the meeting only to be chased down by Soichirou, who then cheers her up by taking her for a ride in his airplane. Again, thinking it a chance encounter, they part ways... until later that evening, when her other housemate, Kaede Haruko (played by Nishida Naomi) walks in with her brother Soichirou, announcing that he will be staying with them as he has been transferred to the Tokyo office.

Needless to say, while the setup is pretty thin, the dialogue and story make up for it in spades. Not only that, but it is a story that can only be told in the Japanese culture, for the ending (which I will not spoil) is very much about duty to friends above yourself. This is a theme not oft seen in American television or movies.

I highly recommend this series, and I have enjoyed it enough to watch it multiple times. The ending is a tearjerker, make sure you have a box of tissue handy.

The story of a man who took seven years to graduate from a third year college with high aspirations of teaching is not only going to grab you, but it will literally steal you away for twelve hours as the characters endear themselves to you.

As a manga story, the characters are comical, to say the least. The lead, Onizuka Eikichi (masterfully played by Sorimachi Takashi), applies at Musashi Seirin Academy only to be rebuked by the Head Teacher Uchiyamada. After an altercation with students that result in Onizuka physically attacking the Head Teacher, does he impress the school's Chairman, Sakurai Akira (played by Shirakawa Yumi), enough to be hired on as the homeroom teacher of Year 2-Class 4 (considered to be the worst of the worst). On his first day he meets the "Madonna-sensei" of the Academy, Fuyutsuki Azusa (played wonderfully by Matsushima Nanako), and the romantic angle is set into place. A condition of his employment at the Academy is that he must carry with him at all times, a written letter of resignation, to be submitted should he cause trouble or break any rules.

The tightrope-without-a-net plot makes for some very interesting episodes. But as you watch each episode and gain an insight into Onizuka-sensei, you cannot help but smile, laugh, gasp, and live vicariously through him. Watch and bond as he wins over his class, one student at a time. This is a highly recommended series!

If you enjoyed this, check out "OverTime" with Sorimachi along with "Syomu ni" alum Esumi Makiko.

The information held within this movie was inaccurate, putting it mildly. But most moviegoers aren't all that interested in technical detail, unless you happen to work and live in the heart of Silicon Valley, such as myself.

The movie's only saving grace is the on-screen chemistry between Angelina Jolie and Jonny Lee Miller (who ended up getting married, btw). Look for the 'beginning of the weirdness' in the acting career for Matthew Lillard.

In conclusion, Hackers is a fun, mindless jaunt into a poor excuse for cyberpunk. Rent it if you're bored, watch it on cable if nothing else good is on.

Upon the release of this film, it was apparent (thanks in part to the media reports) that the Catholic/Christian factions which turned out in droves to protest this movie, probably failed to watch it.

Dogma is an enlightening yet comedic portrayal of Catholicism, without slandering it in the slightest. Offering a unique perspective which only Kevin Smith could probably get away with, I found it to be an instant winner, with one-liners, scenes, and other idealogy which is consistent with the New Jersey stories (Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy) being churned out by View Askew. I wasn't offended by it in the slightest, and when it comes out on home video, I'll definitely be adding this latest installment to my collection.

The acting was par for the course as far as the View Askew flicks are concerned, however, the shocker was Alanis Morisette appearing in the role of God (which was pulled off very nicely indeed).

Two thumbs up... way up for Dogma. Don't believe the hype, spend the money and form your own opinion. If looked at with a bit of intelligence and openmindedness, I believe that even the strictest Catholic will see the humor.

Miyazaki produced, wrote, and directed this Japanese tale about a witch who must spend a year in another city to complete her training. The Japanese dialogue, cast, and musical score were absolutely perfect, to suit Miyazaki 's perfectionistic attitude. Recently, Disney released an awful Americanized version of the movie, which degraded the original intent. I think I'll hang on to the original stuff, and let others buy the Disney version.