7sky7 comments

Not only SAG, but the producers guild named it best film, and likely, so will the academy. Obviously, reading this comment section, it will be a very unpopular choice, if it wins Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

There may be difficulties watching this film because of how it is filmed, the strangeness of the effects/fantasy mind of Michael Keaton's character, and the word usage in the script, but I didn't it find it a dull or boring film, and didn't really think it pontificated. I thought it humorous.

This films is less about pretentiousness, and more about uncertainty. The whimsical use of effects and fantasy thoughts by Keaton's character reflects a self deprecation on the importance of this film, and Inarritu, himself. Would anyone think an Inarritu film would have so many special effects? Quite ironic.

To the above, I would say Inarritu's films are very international in scope, and are about the frailty of humanity. Even self indulgence may be ambiguous, and the unsure feelings that surround it, are of interest when presented in a fascinating manner. To dismiss his films as dull and dry is likely off the mark. Of course, we all view films differently, but the technical use of continuous one shot, the drumming score which ads to the tension, the acting, the parallels to a Raymond Carver play, and the dark humor/use of special effects were all things that make this an interesting film.

Oh, and the best quote was, 'we share a vagina'. There were many funny lines, if one's attention span could get through this film.

Too many things happen, seen and experienced in our own daily lives, that create a feeling that this person's outburst isn't as non typical as it should be. While it is extreme, is anyone really all that surprised by his behavior? I think it's sad and comedic, but examples of childish behavior and actions based on what seems impossibly immature decisions, and often obfuscating integrity and logic with rules and narratives, has blurred right and wrong in the persona of Japanese men, to the point that its highest political officials, who should at least be somewhat representative of their country, are allowed to be bawling children who throw silly and stupid insults to their peers, and show an embarrassing botchan behavior that makes Japan a joke, it shouldn't be.

Many problems with Japan becoming an elite soccer power...coaching I don't believe is the problem. Physically and mentally, the Japanese were beaten.

It may seem like an insignificant thing to many in Japan, but the announcers on television have got to stop rooting for players and their own team, it should be embarrassing for them. The jingoistic flavor is not just for Japan, they root for certain teams and players, of other countries. I couldn't believe one announcer saying how dangerous it was that neymar almost missed a free kick in the first game. A Croatian would listen to that and ask why are the Japanese blatantly rooting for Brazil? I listen to it and hear immaturity and trite words being spoken. They need to quit that stuff, and have more calm and perspective and professional attitude toward describing the game.

Skimpy clothes is really important to me. The shoulder is nice, but my favorite part is the third rib on the left side, however I'll even take the first rib...when I can see that, I definitely know I will fall in love with her.

'City sushi'. Pronounce with a Japanese accent.

Stone and Parker are comic genius'.

Strangerland,

That said internationalization doesn't mean dropping one's own culture. It simply means learning to interact effectively in a global community. Something Japan doesn't do well now.

This is true. Internationalism also does not imply anything about immigration or government policy, although those things do come into play. It is actually more an attitude and desire to be inquisitive and open to the world outside your own, and to gain a better understanding of one's own cultural good and poor qualities, through knowledge gained by interacting and understanding other global communities. The good qualities we want to keep. The bad should be reflected upon and taken steps to change, if necessary.

This is just a ridiculously stupid list, but in the context of how magazines and present day Japanese trends go, it is the norm to be ridiculous, as long as there is something 'kawaii' about it.

This husband blames the right wing blogs for poisoning his wife's mind, but it could well be a deeper problem of xenophobic nature that is becoming a larger part of the Japanese mind and heart, in 2014.

it seems people either believe in ecologic care as a priority or not.

I hate whales being killed. The baby whales and mothers go right up to the whaling ships, and harpooning them is like killing infants...the whales go up to the whaling boats in a friendly, innocent and totally naive fashion, and are helpless, easy targets as get stabbed with the thrust of a high powered harpoon, shot like missile, at them. They are subsequently reeled in, and after a struggle to keep alive, if the whales haven't drowned, are shot with rifles. I doubt that is done in hopes of less suffering, the whalers just want the whale to quit struggling and making a nuisance by trying to keep alive.

NZ2011,

Please... Japan you can be proud of your country but the people who are in power now are starting to isolate Japan by supporting, pro-nuclear, revisionist, possibly senile, right wing nuts...

I've been in Japan for 20 years, and recent isolationist feeling from not only the government, but Japanese people seems to have increased. Back then, it seemed Japan was trying to be more open and gaining world wide trust, but today, they seem to be drifting away from internationalism and leaning toward the pride of being an island nation, which literally no other country can understand, and it's a slippery slope for Japan, even if they refuse to recognize it.

It's sad for the future of Japan, and pro isolationist argument gets little sympathy, and instead of embracing love from the rest of the world, Japan is gaining a reputation of being an evil country. Japan needs to care about that, the rest of the world isn't always the wrong one.

Jamplass,

So far, if the whales being hunted are not on the endangered list and the IWC allows this practice then Japan has the legal right do keep doing what it's doing.

The fin whale and sei whale are on the endangered species list, and do get killed by Japanese whaling boats, so there are species of whale that are endangered being hunted. There are four to five species of whale getting killed by the whaling boats, each year.

If Japan has a legal right, then why do they harpoon whales with the big letters of RESEARCH on their ships? It's because they know they're not research ships, they're there to kill whales, but for some reason are trying to look good. So, just write what's true, RESEARCH should be replaced with WHALE KILLERS, and they can still claim to be scientific researchers.

There are a couple of cases where a sport is so identifiable with characteristics of the people of a country, that I can understand how an entire country can be affected by winning or losing.

Ice hockey is a team game that is very physical, requires great skill, teamwork and a humble, yet confident attitude to play well. Canada's entire country mood and pride are affected by how their hockey team does. Does that show a flaw in their priorities? Perhaps, but they say hockey is in their blood, and because of the United States' presence as a neighbor and being a commonwealth, Canada is quite like the younger sibling, who needs an identity, and hockey gives it to them. They certainly dominated Sochi, taking the gold, and Canada is on cloud 9.

Brazil, in the World Cup, and especially at home, will have their entire emotional well being married to success in soccer. Both Brazil and Canada are examples where winning is important to the national mood, and it is what it is.

HongoTAFE

the quality of the education that some receive is not the problem.

Quality is a real issue. In today's world, studying for a test score or having just fact based learning, as most Japanese schools still adhere to, is very different from a more modern inquiry based learning that emphasizes the process of problem solving, and the focus is on how students learn, rather than what they learn.

The reason for this is the amount of human information, which doubled about every century till 1900, now doubles every 13 months. That means the way education is taught must keep up, and children's information they learn today, will be irrelevant in 10 years, but the process of learning will not be.

As the world internationalizes, it behooves countries to understand others better, so qualities, such as empathy, open ideas, transparency, being principled, are things that should be emphasized. If Japan does not believe the importance of these qualities, and the importance of communicative abilities that are a part of inquiries and discussion among students and teachers, she will have educational difficulty, on an international level, and it will get worse. But does she care?

Japan does not seem to emphasize the idea of greater acceptance and understanding of the world, rather, she seems to believe in isolationism. For Japan, education is mostly to get the Japanese to fit into Japanese society and not the world wide society, and that's limiting in this information age. It's a major reason why I believe the education system in Japan is troubled.

CBG Spender:

A group of right wingers? Even they wouldn't be as dumb to waste efforts into such an act that wouldn't bring any benefit at all for them, would they?

This could be their thinking:

They're upset about Japan's comfort woman stance being attacked.

Comfort women set up by Japan = Jews persecuted by Nazis

Statement by them: tear out pages of Anne Frank.

This crime makes no sense, and it could be this profoundly nonsensical.

Score belies how Canada dominated this game. USA made the mistake of naming Orpik, Faulk and one of Carlson/Shattenkirk/Fowler over better defensive play of Erik Johnson and Jack Johnson, plus the skill of Keith Yandle.

Canada's ability to cycle the puck was the difference, as their possession time and multiple shots at goal were noticeable over the USA one and done shots on net. The Canadian depth at forward, and overall skill level is amazing. If a second team could be named from the remaining players not named to the Olympics, it would be able to compete for a medal.

Sweden is a master of the bigger ice surface(in comparison to the NHL), and has a stellar blue line, so the finals is no gimmee for Canada. In fact, many who will favor Sweden, and while I favor the Canadians, the dominance of the defensemen over the USA will not be the same advantage over the Swedes. I'm hoping my team USA doesn't pull the gold or bust crap and give a great effort for the Bronze.

paul ayon

Also, it's makes you look like a ninja.

Helps, too, to figure out if there was garllc in the gyoza.

Alex 80

Sorry, but the US role in revisionism isn't irrelevant

You're missing the point. I wrote this in the context that history should be written truthfully and not edited to fit a narrative. If you believe accuracy of history in the Japanese texts is not a requirement, then you've got no idea what the value of historical reference is about.

the US intervene because they doesn't want a united Asia

That's simply untrue. The US has reasons for each Asian country it associates with, and tries to recognize the differences and the need for Asian countries to get along, within the realms of each countries' policies.

maybe you don't know that the US (and the UK and France to some extent) made pressure on Japan because it doesn't abandon nuclear power

There are requirements of safety to nuclear power that all nations need to focus on, and if those measures are not allowed to be monitored transparently, accidents may happen. Japan has shown irresponsibility concerning its nuclear power plants and upkeep that has threatened not only her on people, but worldwide possible danger, so it is not out of US bullying they are concerned with Japan's nuclear power plants, it is out of pragmatism.

The US always interferes in Japanese affairs.

Not always. A majority of the time, the US aids Japanese affairs. The US respects Japan, and Japan respects the US. When a disagreement does occur, the US will stand up for human and environmental rights, as do many other nations. I personally do not think the Whaling issue, the dolphin issue, the comfort women issue, the visit to Yasukuni, the child abduction by Japanese parents are points that should be defined as interference. The US is taking a stand which it believes is right, and will not allow Japan to freely violate world wide rules and opinions.

Alex 80

Some people here are like broken records...they repeat always the same things, without trying to understand the real causes behind the facts.

Um, that's you, mostly. You can't seem to acknowledge the revisionist history in the Japanese texts are written and edited by the Japanese, and it is their responsibility to tell the truth. Whatever happened, whether it was US influence, US support of Japanese war criminals, etc....whatever happened... is irrelevant to the idea that history should be recorded, and taught for its truths, not written and edited to fit a narrative.

sfjp330:

If you didn't know, Koreans and Chinese also distort their history heavily and provide very intensive anti-Japan education. So no amount of apology will heal. Their elementary and secondary school history book have so many descriptions to plant seeds of hatred against Japan and Japanese people.

Japan is wrong about how she approaches her own history. They need to fix it for themselves. What I'm saying is Japan should take pride and do what's best for her own country. I never even mentioned anything about apology, that's for someone else's sake. Japan should do what it needs to for its own well being, first, and foremost. If they take the lead, maybe Korean and Chinese attitudes would change as well.

Alex80:

You should "thank" the US if revisionism is so strong in Japan.

I have no idea what you mean. The revisionist history of Japan is on Japan, you can't possibly blame the US for this.

Tamarama:

That's the real issue here. I don't think Japan should constantly apologise for WW2 - they don't need to endlessly self-flaggelate over the war. But they need to be more honest with themselves, and educate the kids more thoroughly and fairly in school to try to add perspective and balance that is missing at present.

Agreed. It is detrimental to Japan, not to be transparent and open to real truths. WW2 is over, and gone, but the lessons learned for themselves...not for other countries...has not been prioritized, and it will forever haunt future Japanese because they have not faced up to themselves. That inability leads to a loss of integrity, and valuing lies over truth hurts Japan greatly, because the lies continue to be part of the way the Japanese government expresses itself. Now it has become so blurred...what is right and wrong, and there is apathy in actually wanting to do the right thing. It makes for a people uncomfortable in their own skins.

Honda sounds like a person who says things to give himself the ego boost of his own perceived importance sounding off. Unfortunately, he said things that were taken at face value. Duh. Afterward, trying to back away from his own comments. Petulant Japanese government typical.