Rurouni Kenshin, a Film by Keishi Ohtomo

It was just a coincidence when I found this Rurouni Kenshin first live action movie in DVD version. Samurai X was my favorite anime series since I was at high school. After I saw the movie and searched on wikipedia, the film that was released on August 25, 2012, in Japan, and became no. 1 blockbuster movie in the home country.

Kenshin Himura was my favorite manga character, and I used it as my avatar in several forums I have joined. Below image was the one that I used.

The Journey Begins

The journey begins with scene from Bakumatsu war. In the war, Kenshin Himura (Takeru Sato) has killed many his rivals using his famous Hiten Mitsurugi. Kenshin also meets with his rival, Hajime Saito (Yosuke Eguchi) who is eager to fight the famous Batosai.

By the time Saito meets with Kenshin, the war is over, and Kenshin throws his sword. A samurai, Udo Jine (Koji Kikkawa) wakes up his body which is buried with death samurai. Jine who is possessed by evil spirit, found the Batosai's sword which is left by Kenshin.

Several years after the war, Kenshin arrives in Tokyo as rurouni, the wandering ronin (masterless samurai). At the park, he reads an announcement from the local police, about Batosai who is wanted for murder in several places in Tokyo.

A sword which is pointed on him, has surprised Kenshin, while he is still reading the announcement. Kaoru Kamiya (Emi Takei) suddenly attacks Kenshin, and claims him to be the wanted Batosai.

Why do you carry a sword?, asked Kaoru. It is sakabatō, answered Kenshin. The sakabatō (reverse blade sword) is a sword which should not be used to kill.

Meanwhile, Saito who now joins as law enforcement, is busied with several murders which had done by the fake Batosai, Udo Jine. Saito noticed the death note left by the murderer was different from what real Batosai was often used.

By the time Udo Jine meets with Kenshin, he notices the X scar in Kenshin's left cheek. The X scar which makes Kenshin famous as Batosai.

In order to save Megumi Takani (Yu Aoi), who is captured by Kanryu Takeda (Teruyuki Kagawa) in his mansion, Kenshin and Sanosuke Sagara (Munetaka Aoki) attack Takeda's mansion, which is guarded with hundreds of Takeda's men.

After defeating many Takeda's men, inside the mansion is waiting Banjin Inui (Genki Sudo). Sanosuke asked Kenshin to keep searching inside the mansion, while he will be facing Banjin Inui alone.

In the other side of the mansion, Gein (Gou Ayano), another Takeda's man is waiting for Kenshin. What does happen next? You must see the whole movie by yourself!

My Point of View

I should say perfect with the appearance of the star from Kamen Rider Den-O, Takeru Sato as Kenshin Himura. His thin small body is perfect for the manga character.

In this film, the director Keishi Ohtomo is great at the scene take. The Kenshin famous Hiten Mitsurugi fighting technique is well capture here in this film. Although the manga is sometimes loved by most teenagers, but this live action manga is filled with many bloody actions.

The scene that makes me surprised is when Kenshin memorizes on how he had his first scar on his cheek. I never knew that before on the anime series. Although the second scar does not mention in the film, but the whole story is well explained.

So, the X scar is really not done by one sword on one fight, just like I thought before. Another thing is, the famous red kimono that always used by Kenshin, belongs to the late of Kaoru's father.

The bare hand fight between Sanosuke with Banjin Inui is the humour side of the movie. While the best fight in the movie is the fight between Kenshin and Gein.

I give five stars on this movie, the 19th century Japan setting is awesome. The martial art technique is really determined the way of the real samurai. Just like my favorite samurai movie that is also filmed in Japan, The Last Samurai, stars by Tom Cruise.

If you are fans of Kenshin Himura in the Samurai X anime series, I suggest you to see this film. It is really live action manga.

Simfoni Luar Biasa (A Special Symphony): A Film by Awi Suryadi

Simfoni Luar Biasa, in which titled when played in Philippines as A Special Symphony, was a film that used 3 languages, Bahasa Indonesia, English and Tagalog (Philippines). A story about singer who gets life lessons from the children with special need. The singer was played brilliantly by famous Philippines singer, Christian Bautista.

The film was released in Indonesia, at September 29, 2011, while in Philippines was already released first at August 3, 2011. The story begins when Jayden (Christian Bautista), a musician, who is still struggled in the music industry, is trying to reach his goal to become a star. One night in Manila City, Philippines, had changed Jayden's life, becoming a broken man, with no money at all.

The funny thing is, he manages to fly to Jakarta, Indonesia to visit his mother, Marlina (Ira Wibowo), who had been separated. The meeting with Mrs. Rinjani (Ira Maya Sopha), the principal of school for children with special need, had made him becoming a new music teacher.

The video about the student's choir which uploaded on youtube, had made the school gets an invitation to go to Students Choir Competition. My favorite scene is when Jayden gets mad to his student's brother when he picked up him. Idiot! Get yourself into the car!, said his student's brother. Don't you ever said that again! Ever!, said Jayden angrily.

But the boy's parent is not happy with Jayden. They both then meet the principal, and ask Mrs. Rinjani to fired Jayden, or they will move their child to another school. That's not our way to yell to our child like the way you did, said the mother. Children! You have 2 children, and not just one. Your son has very amazing voice. You should see his performance! It's too bad to not let him sing at the competition. It'll break his heart, said Jayden.

So what then? Will Jayden leave the school or not? You should see this film! This film had made my eyes is like a broken glass, but not dropped into tears.

Image from Wikimedia.

Source: RCTI, Friday, July 6, 2012, 5 pm (UTC+7).

Soegija (a Film by Garin Nugroho)

A film by Garin Nugroho about the life of Mgr. Albertus Soegijapranata, S.J., the 1st Indonesian native bishop and also a national hero, which will be released in all movie theatres in Indonesia, in June 7, 2012. Whether Garin Nugroho, or Nirwan Dewanto, the actor who played as Soegija are not a Catholic.

Nirwan Dewanto is also not a real movie actor, he was known as an Indonesian Humanist. The tecnical problem, was because I'm not an actor, said Nirwan. Nirwan was choosen by Father F.X. Murti Hadi Wijayanto S.J., the film producer, due to Nirwan has similiar face like Mgr. Soegija

Nirwan Dewanto was willing to work hard to act by studying lots of Catholic literatures, including learned the Latin, Greek, and Dutch languages. Besides English, Mgr. Soegija was capable of mastering those 3 languages.

The Soegija film controversy was formerly discussed in the internet and through Blackberry Messenger (BBM). Many Indonesian sceptic people who haven't see the film, considered that this film will affect to one's faith after he watched it, a Christianitation. Such a short minded thinking, living in the country with so many differences, races, faiths, cultures and languages, with Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Differences but one) as its motto. Don't call yourself as an Indonesian if you have that kind of thought!

Butet Kertaradjasa, one of the film actors also deplored the existence of such opinions. There will be no one's faith is changed simply because of watching a work of art. I feel pity for people who think so shallow. It similar to people who buy food, then ask what is the chef's faith? Had the chaf been circumcised or not? That's very funny. I think the rumor was a free promotional ads, said Butet in the interview at the Gran Melia Hotel, Jakarta, May 16, 2012. This film purpose is to foster the values of nationalism, humanity and how to behave in an unstable situation, he added.

This 12 billion IDR budget film is inspired by Mgr. Soegija's diary during his nomination as apostolic vicar of Semarang in 1940 and the end of the war with the Dutch in 1949. Mgr. Soegija's fight was not phisically, but by his articles that had sent to foreign media, or so called as silent diplomacy.

The film begins in the courtyard of the Church of Gedangan, in Semarang. Soegijapranata has just been ordained Apostolic Vicar, upon ratification by Mgr. Montini who would later become Pope Paul VI. Indonesia was still occupied by the Dutch, but in 1941, the Dutch surrendered to Japan, which begun to conquer South East Asia.

The Indonesians welcomed the Japanese as their saviour. Mgr. Soegija knows everything what had already happened in the Church in Japan. He had predicted that soon the saviour would do the same as the Dutch. Torture Indonesian people with force labour called romusa, causing millions of deaths by starvation, and teaching native Indonesian to raise weapons to build their defense against the U.S. Allied Forces. Though the last one has benefit for Indonesia to build Tentara Nasional Indonesia (Indonesian National Army).

Mgr. Soegija's memorable words was when he broadcasted on the radio in 1947.

We are Indonesian Catholics side with the republic will achieve a real and complete independence

Mgr. Soegija's wish came true on December 27, 1947, when the Dutch was willing to recognized Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia, the United States of the Republic of Indonesia.

The People's Tongue Connector

Mgr. Albertus Soegijapranata, S.J. was born by the child name Soegija in Solo (Oldest=Soerakarta), Central Java, November 25, 1896. In July 26, 1963, based on Presidential Decree no. 152 of 1963, the 1st President of the United States of the Republic of Indonesia (PotUSoRI), Soekarno, awarded him as Indonesian National Hero, shortly after he passed away in Netherlands. He was buried in the Giri Tunggal Heroes Cemetery, in Semarang, Central Java. To honour the Rama Kanjeng, a street in Solo and a Catholic University in Semarang were named after his.

Image from Wikimedia

I'm Not Jesus Mommy (a Film by Vaughn Juares)

An interesting 2010 movie that you should see! Here is some of my review for you:

Kimberly would stop at nothing to have a child of her own. The world first successful human cloning project brings an unthinkable solution for her. Her husband, Bruce Gabriel was angry with her decision of using the infant from the project. Bruce leaves the house with anger, driving his car, then died in a car accident when he tried to reach Kimberly's phone call (one thing you shouldn't have done when driving a vehicle).

9 months later, a son named David Gabriel was the result. 7 years after David's birth, wars, famine, and natural disasters of every kinds have plagued the Earth. Kimberly struggels to survive her biggest challenge on raising David. Strange occurrences surrounding the young boy David, as he managed to bring back the dead mouse to be alive again.

Roger, the head researcher of the cloning project reveals that David was cloned from DNA taken from the Shroud of Turin, from blood of Christ. Is David is the Second Coming of Christ, or something else? Who is David's imaginary friend? You should see the movie for yourself!

If you're a Christian, or Catholic like me, my suggestion for you is to not take the movie seriously! Just enjoy watching the movie! It's really nice story with no special effect at all, kind like a drama.

Happy Good Friday !!