I would totally watch a movie about a Christian priest dealing with swapping genders.I do wonder how they're going to localize that since it's a very Japanese centric thing.
I would totally watch a movie about a Christian priest dealing with swapping genders.I do wonder how they're going to localize that since it's a very Japanese centric thing.
And in Your Name it's not done badly. So I'd say that nailed the degree in which they used that trope.That's a strawman. There are degrees to this.
Anyway, back to the topic, I doubt a live action movie is going to work unless they get someone who really groks the source material. Too many hollywood adaptations miss the point of the source material they draw from.
I really need to watch Your Name, lol
All the hype surrounding it has been such a turn-off, since I'll now be going in expecting a masterpiece or something.
I hope it delivers~~~
White washing issues aside, I have no idea how they are looking to replicate the success of the anime. The original movie was a perfect storm of beautiful animation, great music, and a twist that caught the public by surprise, leading to tremendous word of mouth.
Truth be told, if you take away the animation and the music, I feel you're left with an above average gender-swap story. The twist was okay, but ultimately lead to a bog-standard conclusion. I agree with Shinkai when he said that it's not Ghibli grade quality. So what exactly is Hollywood hoping to get out of this? It would be nice if it's a passion project, but I can't shake the feeling that it's more to do with a lack of ideas.
but....the movie was great as it is....who's asking for this....?
JJ Abrams is going to invent time travel and stop the production of the original movie.I hate Hollywood, let anime movies exist! Release it in America and use a dub, perfect solution.
JJ Abrams is going to invent time travel and stop the production of the original movie.
It's a bit reductive perhaps, but I agree with the person above saying that the dramatic trappings were rather contrived. The twist caught me by surprise and made me curious to see where the movie was going. Ultimately, the plot is not as clever as it seemed to let on, as everything is very neatly tied together in the end, without any sort of consequence resulting from the major events of the movie. I do agree with Rydeen to the extent that it really did feel like a YA product, albeit one that is very well executed. Without the animation and music, I fear that a lot of the charm will be gone.I think reducing it to a gender-swap story might be a bit too reductive. Makoto Shinkai's calling card is his thematic exploration of how people deal with alienation and their connections with other people over seemingly insurmountable distances, both physical and temporal. He constantly revisits this in his oeuvre, from Voices of Distant Star to 5 Centimeters Per Second, and to a certain extent, Your Name. I think there's something in that that could translate over to Hollywood, but to be honest, Your Name is probably not the right movie. I think an adaptation of Voices of a Distant Star will work better because I think it's impossible to miss what that movie is about.
I mean, I'm not familiar with a ton of anime in general, but as far as adapting Japanese material in general goes, and since I just rewatched it the other day, I'll mention The Magnificent Seven (the original) as a great western (and Western genre!) adaption of the Japanese source.When has that ever happened?
It's a bit reductive perhaps, but I agree with the person above saying that the dramatic trappings were rather contrived. The twist caught me by surprise and made me curious to see where the movie was going. Ultimately, the plot is not as clever as it seemed to let on, as everything is very neatly tied together in the end, without any sort of consequence resulting from the major events of the movie. I do agree with Rydeen to the extent that it really did feel like a YA product, albeit one that is very well executed. Without the animation and music, I fear that a lot of the charm will be gone.
Was speaking to my Japanese friends today about this. From their perspective, the movie focuses a lot on specific themes like familial connections, individual and societal identities as well as the thread connecting multiple generations, respect for the elderly etc. For them the relationship and interactions between Mizuha and her father were the most impactful scenes in the movie and one that they talk about a lot. They get bombarded with innumerable YA stuff daily, but this movie brings a lot more to the table hence the popularity.
I am pretty sure this will be lost in translation where they will focus more on the sci-fi/save the world plot. Would you blame them though, if that's what western audiences look for?
It was a brilliant movie because it's fantastic as a package, I never did feel like the plot was the driving force behind the movie at all. The little details and nuances playing well into the emotional notes is what elevated it for me. Your last sentence is a bit silly, if you apply it to any media.
Exactly. JJ doesn't understand character depth or nuance so I think this will be his first big bomb (at least in a while).
They probably will turn it into a more concrete paranormal adventure (perhaps like Girl Who Leapt Through Time) and will most likely completely change the ending, if nothing else.I mean at its heart it's a pretty simple romcom, acting like it wouldn't work in live action seems kinda silly.
Was speaking to my Japanese friends today about this. From their perspective, the movie focuses a lot on specific themes like familial connections, individual and societal identities as well as the thread connecting multiple generations, respect for the elderly etc. For them the relationship and interactions between Mizuha and her father were the most impactful scenes in the movie and one that they talk about a lot. They get bombarded with innumerable YA stuff daily, but this movie brings a lot more to the table hence the popularity.
I am pretty sure this will be lost in translation where they will focus more on the sci-fi/save the world plot. Would you blame them though, if that's what western audiences look for?
It's a fine package, the plot being the weakest part in my opinion. Which is a shame, because I was fully engaged by the time act 2 came around, wondering where the movie would go. Sadly, the third act deflated the entire experience.It was a brilliant movie because it's fantastic as a package, I never did feel like the plot was the driving force behind the movie at all. The little details and nuances playing well into the emotional notes is what elevated it for me. Your last sentence is a bit silly, if you apply it to any media.
I mean at its heart it's a pretty simple romcom, acting like it wouldn't work in live action seems kinda silly.
Thats a separate issue about whether Hollywood does care in practice. Im annoyed that people outside of Hollywood do this wrt to people from countries in Asia in inappropriately ignoring the differences between these countries. Japanese people are not substitutes for Chinese people and vice versa, etc,, and it is offensive that people assume such when calling for generic Asian representation in the case of movies, such as Your Name, which are clearly part of one cultural heritage as opposed to another. People here, and in Hollywood, should do better when discussing these issues. Many in this thread have already done exactly this.Except that Hollywood literally does this for every ethnicity and every nationality. There's very little comment when a Black British actor plays a Black American character (Get Out), or a Black American plays an African (Cry Freedom, Hotel Rwanda). Or when an British/Irish person plays a German (both versions of Magneto). Or when a Spaniard plays a Mexican (Desperado). Or I could keep going for days here. As long as they get the general area/ancestry right, Hollywood does not now, and probably will never, care about explicit nationalities.
What movie did you watchI love the movie.. but I was a bit disappointed by the protractedending that seemed to lean too heavily towards rewardingwill they/won't they-- could just be my interpretation. But the silver lining here is that a new, slightly modified version for the west could strengthen the resolution, particularly from the point of view of the female protagonist.the male's pursuit (albeit ambigiously) while almost forcing us to accept that the female MUST continue/accelerate a relationship with this boob-abuser even while she's just been exposed to a whole new world and time -- particularly a part of the world (the city) that was desperate to become a part of/experience
*Sorry, forgot the main character's names, ironically.
And, of course, if I was the screenwriter -- I would have to set it in Japan. The historical context and customs are absolutely key to making this story work. One of the several important reasons would be to remind the west ofthat scar, that sin that we inflicted on that country #norevionsism #necessaryevil and how much it has become a part of them, something they carry, almost as the memory of it is in their blood.
But then again, I wouldn't get the job because I'm reminded time and again by Hollywood that if you don't set it in America (with Americans), Americans wont watch it. That's a secret/lingering dogma we're fighting to change right now (along with all the other obvious ones). I WOULD make it in English though -- cause you gotta get that American money #Americansdontreadsubtitltes.
I'd care if this was an adaptation of something I cared about like Akira or Bubblegum Crisis, but Your Name was corny, manipulative YA/LN garbage. Every dramatic moment is due to dramatic convenience, like who wouldn't remember news about? It would be international news on a 9/11 scale. Also the goddamn movie opens with a TV style opening complete with a syrupy Jpop ballad. You're a movie, act like it.an asteroid wiping out a chunk of the planet
I have yet to see the original on account of the fact that I can't seem to find a dubbed version anywhere. I simply just hate watching movies with subtitles
If this version of the movie is meant for western audiences the setting and characters will be changed to westerners. And there is nothing wrong with that. Same way of Japan adapted a western property for it's local market I'd expect them to change the setting to Japan and make the characters japanese.
Glad they making this, the idea sounds interesting but most anime is intolerable so I'd rather see a live action version.
Also the goddamn movie opens with a TV style opening complete with a syrupy Jpop ballad. You're a movie, act like it.
I actually *reaaallly* disliked this too. xD
It was the most awkward thing to see in a body-swap movie (pretty sure it's the only Shinkai movie to do this too); it felt a little tacky and really out of place.
Anyways, yay, more anime adaptions.... let's see how that goes; good news is the bar is generally pretty low.
The family connections were there, but the movie didn't really do anything with them. Showa Dad ("I care deeply for my children but the only emotion I can project to the outside world is anger") is one of the most recognizable archetypes out there. I'm not a soulless beast, so the emotional scenes did work for me to a certain point. It's just that the movie doesn't really do anything particularly interesting with the pieces that it puts forward. The big event* doesn't serve a larger purpose, and everything is neatly wrapped up in a bowtie at the end. The final act felt rushed and awkwardly written into an ending that's sure to please a large audience.
Don't get me wrong: I don't think the movie is bad. I just don't think it's great, and I unfortunately watched it after the hype machine was fully engaged.
It's a fine package, the plot being the weakest part in my opinion. Which is a shame, because I was fully engaged by the time act 2 came around, wondering where the movie would go. Sadly, the third act deflated the entire experience.
My last sentence refers to the fact that I did not find the movie to be that special, outside of the animation and music, which leaves me doubting the purpose of a live action adaption.
So ... WHEN is he supposed to direct this?
I thought parts dragged on far too long actually. Like whenI see where you're coming from here, agree and apologise for calling it silly. Regarding the third act I thought although rushed and a bit disjointed did not really detract from the theme, because at its core the movie is about shit happens, find meaning in it, the world goes on.
The anime is perfect as it is, why should we need this?