The Triumphant Return of General Rouge Movie Review

Title: The Triumphant Return of General Rouge

AKA: Glorious Team Batista 2 Movie

Genre: Medical, Mystery, Thriller

Origin: Japan

Release date: March 7, 2009

Cast: Takeuchi Yuko, Abe Hiroshi, Sakai Masato, Kanjiya Shirori, Yamamoto Taro and Shiro Sano.

This movie is the follow-up on the movie “The Glorious Team Batistsa”.

One year has passed since Taguchi Kimiko (Takeuchi Yuko) and Shiratori Keisuke (Abe Hiroshi) solved the case with the Team Batista scandal, and now Taguchi has unwillingly become a member of the ethnic’s board. Still doing the counseling, she one morning gets an anonymous letter addressed to her about a doctor having a collusive relationship with Medical Arts: a medical supply company. After taking the letter to the hospital director she is told to investigate which she only agrees on as long as she is allowed to leave the ethics board.

While investigating one doctor from the Medical Arts company dies, and Taguchi becomes a prime suspect since she was last seen with him. Moments after being released she hears of Shiratori’s admitted in the same hospital, so she goes to taunt him. But when she is told by Shiratori that he had gotten the same letter as her they team up once again to find the truth…

Compared to the first movie, the first part, this one I like better. It has a bit more humor, and it is more ‘medical’ in the essences of there actually being more about patients and doctors. The duo seems more enjoyable around each other, and the overall story is kind of a bit more intriguing than the first movie. Though I have to admit, I like the drama idea of the stories more. I haven’t watched the second season, but I think I will still prefer the drama. The movies have this dark ‘cloud’ around it, as if it’s scary in some way, and I am not sure it’s supposed to be like that. The atmosphere is kind of dark, and it was like that in the first movie as well.

It’s an okay movie to watch if you liked the first one.

☆☆☆½ / 3½ out of 5 stars

♥♥♥½ / 3½ out of 5 hearts

Moon Child Movie Review

Title: Moon Child

Genre: Action, Horror

Origin: Japan

Release date: April 19, 2003

Cast: Hideto Takarai (Hyde), Gackt, Yamamoto Taro and Kanata Hongo.

“Mallepa 2014. Resistance to new anti-immigration laws turned violent in Mallepa’s southern district. The area is mostly inhabited by poor Japanese immigrants who have been worst hit by the economic downturn. Such frustrations are thought to play a part in the demonstrations. Casualties run into the thousands but confirmation is still pending. According to police reports stability has been restored. As a Special Economic Zone, discrimination doesn’t exist. Mallepa’s founding principle is tax-free growth for people of all races.” (Taken from the introduction of the movie)

Sho (Kanata Hongo) and his older brother are orphans living in Mallepa as pickpockers, until they one day, meet Kei (Hyde) who happens to be a vampire. As Sho doesn’t care about Kei being a vampire, Kei starts living with them, and becomes close to Sho. Several years later Sho (Gackt) now in his twenties still lives with Kei and his friend Toshi (Yamamoto Taro).  Sho’s brother has become a drug addict, Toshi sells pizza with drugs, and Sho and Kei live off stealing from gangs, and manage to live pretty well, until one day when they meet Son (Leehom).

I watched this movie because Jenji one day told me that it was an amazing movie. Like, she honestly kept repeating herself every 10 min. That was maybe 3-4 years ago, but I didn’t watch it, because the storyline was nothing I would watch. And so the day came when I saw this file on asiatorrents, and I was like why not? I have to admit, I didn’t hate it. The story isn’t that good, and the length of the movie is so not fair to the storyline - seems too short - but I don’t think I would be able to watch more than the length it is. 

Gackt and Hyde are honestly trying - I think - but somehow it seems a bit overacted, though that might be because of the age of the movie. They are both trying too hard in being hot; Gackt is just too Visual Kei to be a gangster and Hyde is not really the best actor in this role. 

I don’t know if I recommend it, but I think it is an okay movie, even though it is 10 years old.

☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Jenji's verdict
I watched this movie a LONG time ago. I was only watching japanese drama, but not that many, but I knew a bit about Gackt. I do remember liking the movie very much, but yeah, now that I think about it I really don't think it was that special. It's just that Bunji remembers every word I have ever said no matter how long ago that was. So I cant really say that much about the movie. I guess it is alright. But really not the best out there hahah. I really have no idea what to say. Maybe you should just stick to Bunji's verdict. Hihih, so I'm really just gonna rate the same.

 ☆☆☆ / 3 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

Kaiji Movie Review

Title: Kaiji: Jinsei gyakuten gêmu.
AKA: Kaiji
Genre: Suspense
Origin: Japan
Release date: 2009-Oct-11
Cast: Fujiwara Tatsuya, Amami Yuki, Namase Katsuhisa
Tatsuya Fujiwara, Matsuyama Ken'ichi and Yamamoto Taro.

Ito Kaiji (Tatsuya Fujiwara) is an average worker, and has no meaning in life. One day, by accident, he meets Endo Riko (Yuki Amami) who tells him that he owns millions of yen, which he had lend. Kaiji, who doesnt know anything about it, freaks out saying that he doesnt have the money pay her back.
Then Riko invites him to join a competition on a ship that is going to make him get all the money, so he can pay back. As he joins the competition, he finds out that it is no ordinary game. In order to join the game, you have to borrow 3mio yen, but there are interests in every single minute. All hell breaks loose as every single player fights to stay in the game.

I can explain this movie in 2 words: insane and weird. The entire movie happens extremely fast, so I didn't really have time to step out and question everything. My mind became fixed on cheering for Kaiji, since he had over 100 mio in debt. Some things were disturbing, like the rich people eating dinner and watching gamers fall off a rooftop. For Ken'ichi Matsuyama fans, you wont get dissapointed, since his character is worth watching. The pairing up with the Death Note cast is so great that I actually replayed the 'bonding' scene over and over again.
If you like mind games, watch it. If you like Light and L together, watch it.

☆☆☆½ / 3.5 out of 5 stars

♥♥½ / 2½ out of 5 hearts

Jenji's verdict
Mi layk dis muvi. Though I did get a bit confused,, i had a hard time catching up. It got really complicated at the end but that might just be me bit slow.. hehehe. I was like "Did he do it? Or maybe not, maybe he's trying to confuse him, or he wants him think that he wants to confuse him, or maybe this is just really simple? .." yeah and i gave up thinking bout that couse from my point of view its impossible to predict that. But dude seriously awesome movie. Its like money make people insane,, well not all but most people. Like so insane like when they never get enough money and when they got lots of it they dont know what to do with their lives anymore so they just watch poor people fight for their freedom and their lives and so they take advantage of them. Aaargghh most rich people just suck. How bout using ur money for something helpful. Idiots. Taking advantage of Light and L. Freaks, no life, they should b the ones working underground day and night for nothing.
Im gonna give this movie 4 ☆'s cause its bout poeple fighting againsk those STUPID rich dudes ! Fightoo-o! + Lighto-chan ^^

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥♥/ 4 ♥'s out of 5