Lincoln

So, I haven't spoken much about Japanese culture for a while, so I thought I'd tell you about my favourite Japanese comedy show, Lincoln.

Lincoln is basically a Japanese Variety/Comedy show fronted by famous comedy duo, Downtown, and 7 other comedians. Each week the show either follows one theme (maybe one of the members birthday's) or several smaller installements (last weeks show had a 20 minute feature on whether chosen comedians were using CGI in stunts or not...and yes it is way funnier than it sounds!).

Lincoln is easy for a Gaijin like myself to understand because the humour is universal (although sometimes Shiori needs to translate) and physical. For example, the group went to Universal Studios Japan for one of the group's birthday. They made him dress up in a ridiculous outfit and had him perform in the parade. Another funny episode is when they mimicked Michael Jackson and "rented" an electronics store for an hour (of course Jackson had all night). They all dressed up in different incarnations of Jackson (funny in itself) and then proceeded to go shopping. The twist was at the end they had a choice of two cards; one card meant that the show would pay and other meant they had to pay themselves.

Anyway the video is the opening credits (from the guys who worked on the Animatrix) and here is the link from Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_%28variety_show%29

Review - 300

300

Like most historical epics, 300 flirts with the details, but thats the point in Zack Snyder's (Dawn of the Dead) adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel. After success with Sin City, Miller's work has found a home on the big screen, and the tale of Spartan King, Leonaidis is a tale fit for celluloid.

With Persia threatening his country, Leonaidis and just 300 soldiers defended Sparta against an army of hundreds of thousands. It's a story of bravery, honour and a fight against a superior aggressor which is just one reason 300 sounds like it was ripe for cinematic adaptation.However this is a Frank Miller adaptation, and Snyder loyally sticks to the comic book roots which are the films strongest and weakest points.

This is like no other epic you will have ever seen. Imagine Lord of the Rings battlefield bravado meets the stylized palette of Sin City and you will nearly be there. It is a gorgeous looking film, with sepia, electric blue and blood red all inking into the frame. The battle sequences use Matrix style action, but it seems fresh and intense.

The other strong point of 300, is the performance of Gerald Butler as Leonaidis. He is a mountain of a man, but one filled with passion and his own sense of honour and freedom. Butler makes him the standout character in what is essentially a comic character. Leonaidis is given such a presence by Butler that you wouldn't want to piss him off.

Yet, 300 never escapes it's pulpy roots. Because Snyder plays the stylistic card to great effect, it seems that the historical epic gets lost in the mix. The dialogue at times is cliched, and there are some dubious politics and racial stereotypes that surface with rather alarming resonance for a viewer in the 21st Century.

All in all, a beautiful movie, hamstrung by its own ambitions.

7 out of 10

My week

So a new week begins, and I am still in Japan. My future still is uncertain, with a definate emphasis on returning home. Anyway i have begun to realise that all time is precious, because once it's passed through the hourglass, once the day is done, then there is no going back.

Unless you are Doctor Who or Marty McFly and have a time machine.

So the last week in my life has been and gone. What happened ?

Well, first of all Shiori and I have our anniversary (1 year together) on the 1st of July, so I've been busy trying to think of surprises for that. Unfortunately I couldn't get the actual day off work, but have the Monday, Tuesday off as Shift Swaps from the guys at work, and we plan to go away. Maybe to Osaka or Kyoto.

I went and saw 300 at the cinema this week. Hopefully I'll post a review at some point either here or on my other blog, The Ninja Gaijin.

I had to work on Friday at Tadotsu, a small town a few miles away from Marugame. It's located in an Aeon Town shopping complex, in the middle of nowhere. It's a small school, with only a handful of kids and less than 150 students. That day passed rather slowly, and i'm glad I don't work there.

Update!

So, I haven't felt like blogging on here recently and for that I apologise. I feel emotionally drained most evenings after work, and I keep thinking that whatever I write will sound trivial in the shadow that hangs over me and my family. However I do owe it to people who read/peruse this blog to put up some new content, so here goes!

Firstly, NOVA was in the news again this week, and again for the wrong reasons. The Japanese courts ruled that NOVA cannot trade/sell new lessons for 6 months after it broke trading rules. Full article in the Japan Times can be found here --- http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070614a1.html

At the mo, we all have jobs and are being told not to worry, but a fear of redunancy hangs ominously in the background.

As for me, the AT job is going well, the new staff are great and so far no real obstacles have got in my way.

So for me life is pretty much the same as ever.

Myself and Shiori did find a cool bar in Takamatsu called Tabi, which is really exclusive and hidden. It has a real top end feel to it, where they will make you any cocktail and have a massive list of their own. For a treat I purchased a Cuban Cigar, which was really nice.

Crossroad Blues

So, its been all quiet on the Eastern Front for a few weeks, and for those of you who don't know the specifics around my absence, I apologise.

From my last post, you may have been aware that I returned to England because of my mother coming down with an illness. The events that followed were traumatic, numbing and life changing for me.

I now stand at a crossroads.

Unsure of what lies at the end of each path, only the direction is solid.

To stay in Japan. To be loved by Shiori, but ultimately be consumed by guilt and self hatred.

To return home. To be the rock once again for my family, but to leave my girl. To see everything I've built become abandoned. A ruin of achievement.

To disappear. To run away from everything.

At the moment, my head is a mess of ideas. My heart pulled all over the place.

My future is cloudy, uncertain. Which way to turn ?