Movie: "12" (2007)

Remake of American classic "12 Angry Men" by Russian director and actor Nikita Mikhalkov.

Long before I wanted to watch this movie as in 2007 it created rather a stir in our country and was presented as kind of masterpiece of modern movie ( "About everyone and for everyone..."

- was written on film posters) ...

Hmm...Complicated feeling..Mikhalkov managed to invite for his film 12 brilliant actors who represent Russian movie today - Sergey Makovetsky, Sergey Garmash were especially good, famous comedy actor Yuri Stoyanov also appeared to be amazing big screen actor..Interesting suspense plot and dramatic monologues-confessions of each from 12 men and modern Russia that appears in these confessions with all its burning problems - poverty and interethnic conflicts, culture degradation and cruelty of people around....

But final of "12" was absolutely disappointing. Again I realised that I don`t like Mikhalkov because in each of his film he plays sort of hero who saves our poor country and show it the way to Redemption....This film ends in stupid Hollywood-worth final with symbolic icon staff, Mikhalkov hero appeared to be Saviour (again)....So, pathetic film by this director as usual - even best Russian actors didn`t save the situation

Russia around (3) Matryoshka again

Today I have been doing window shopping all day long in Loft in Yokohama, in Tokyo - as I am moving next week!! So looked for curtains, carpet and other stuff...and found these two cute matryoshka in Japanese men`s fashion store MARUI MAN.

Moustache Matryoshka
http://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/arenot/501021906-11410.html

USB Flash-memory "Memoryoshka"
http://item.rakuten.co.jp/arne/0016a00377/

WOW! Russia

http://www.wowrussia.com/
Cool site- introduction of our country by Russian girl Elena Marus who was a student of British Higher School of Art and Design and who made this site as her graduate work. Cute design and very funny content!

Movie: "Salt" (2010)

"U are r-r-rashen spai" - it was catchy words I heard in Promotion trailer for this film in Japan...
Not so young Angleina - unhealthy thin here (remember the times - bomb shell in "Tomb Rider"), her crappy wigs through the movie, "Star Wars" -level absurdly UN-real plot

The only one thing I liked - she pronounced Russian expressions in soooo sexy soft voice....

Russia around(2) Santacryoshka

Found this toy in Japanese interior store. Santa Claus toy as matryoshka doll...Name is .."santacryoshka"
:)

Movie: "Black Sunday" (1977)

I don`t know how it is in other TSUTAYA stores, but in one near to my house they set "TOP 3 movies" in each genre - and I find it is great! If I watch only what I like to - it finally ends to some pop films with Brangelina or other stuff which is highly promoted..

But this time I chose "Movies about terrorists` plots" (smth. like that) and watched "Black Sunday"(1977) - about terrorists organization who decided to organize big BOOM by setting bomb inside the blimp (I learned new word!) of TV crew which should fly over the stadium during Super Bowl in January.

Interesting plot, people of different nationalities in movie who speaks with different English accents .

This time America is saved by Mr.Kabakov (wow!) - he is Russian roots Jew, I supposed, played by Robert Shaw... Story as whole and ending resemble vintage "James Bond" but of good quality - without james bond-like fancy stuff - it is more about politics, motivations of terrorism. Actually actors playing terrorists - Bruce Dern (he is brilliant!) and Marthe Keller - and their story line (reasons why they do it, their passion) is much more interesting than final scene of blimp over the stadium - which is I guess supposed to be one of most impressive in the film of this category.

Everything has just begun....

Yeah...My 2-month training course finally finished, but I feel like everything has just begun! I entered Creative and Web design department..
Working with truly "passionate professionals" make you study and improve your skills every day. Today I bought HTML Handbook and I am ready for the whole new world...he-he...a lot to study but i am so excited!

P.S. Angelina Jolie whispering me every day from the desktop of my PC always reminds me important thing necessary for building good relationships with people around me.

Reading: Ivan Goncharov "Oblomov" (1859)

When I was 15 Russian classic literature seemed so boring for me and each novel was so endless, that I thought after graduation from school I would never ever return to it...
But time passed and Oblomov - 30 year old hero of this novel by Russian classic author Ivan Goncharov - who seemed some "lazy old guy with strange thoughts and problems" at that time, today when you are 24 year old suddenly becomes so close, his problems have so much in common with what you think and feel now...
So time came to reread classic and "Oblomov" was first one- novel about apathy which can ruin life of even the kindest people...

Hiroki Wada photos

Photos by Hiroki Wada

Styling by Hiromi Takeuchi

Movie: "Golden Slumber" (2010)

Finally I have day-off (after so busy week) and today I don`t have to meet anybody, so I decided to devote Sunday to watching movie at home. This time it is Japanese film - story was written by famous detective mystery novelist Kotaro Isaka.
I read his other novel "Foreign Duck, Native Duck Coin-locker" before and found it quite interesting (there was also movie).
This time it was a bit unrealistic story of assassination of Japanese Prime Minister and how intelligent agency uses innocent guy to show him as assassin to the nation, and how this poor guy first run from them and finally escaped with the help of friends and some tricky stuff (uff....shitty explanation - so you`d better to watch it than trying to understand my English)...
Anyhow, plot is intriguing and plus- the story is depicted in Sendai (as I know, in his all novels
Isaka depicts his native town Sendai) - town where I studied for about 1 year and it was so nostalgic to see all the places, city landmarks, Sendai station surroundings in the movie (I even found model girl from my Sendai agency in the movie playing waitress!)...
Another point is that Isaka always chose one song for his each novel and this song becomes leading motif that fills each page of the novel. In "Foreign Duck, Native Duck Coin-locker" it was "Blowin` in the Wind" by Bob Dylan, this time "Beatles" song...

Mobile phone memories

Yesterday I checked my mobile phone and found out that I have so many photos in it, which I have taken during these 2 years in Japan...And I realised that these 2 years were sometimes tough, but they brought me good memories and which is more important precious experience.

First of all, it was Yokohama with it`s special "marine" atmosphere

It was my small apartment in Namamugi station - place, perhaps, nobody knows about....

"Pirozhki" shop in Kamakura

Becoming fan of Japanese green tea and all deserts with the flavour...

It was hard time of job hunting during crisis, with sending 10 resumes a week and desperately waiting for any reply, any chance to get job.

It was about 2 years of working in previous company, which first were so hard for me that I thought of coming back home after 3 months, but I could overcome and now realise that all I did were so good learning chance and so precious knowledge. "Selling used construction equipment" - I`ve never could even thought that I would do it, but I could and hope I made some contribution...And it was time when I realised how important to be involved in what you are doing - all these dozers, excavators and drills became part of my life

It was time of trying myself in something completely different...
Finding out "Russia around" in the middle of Tokyo....

.....in this H&M shirt which looked exactly as Russian national costume

....in "The Philosophy of Marxism" book which some apparel shop used to decorate interior

...in "Aeroflot" bags being sold in Second-Hand Clothing Shops in Harajuku

In these 2 years there were election in Japan with sometimes ridiculous posters like "Romance and Responsibility"It was also death of MJ - so unbelievable, so sad
And finally despite all troubles I just enjoyed life, becoming true "Tokyo lover" - city which gives me so much energy

Movie: "Grave of the Fireflies" ("Hotaru-no-Haka")(1988)

The most dark anime of Studio Ghibli... Crying for the whole 2 hours of watching is guaranteed.

Very tearful story about war and children whose mother died during bombing and who have to live by themselves among world of adults...

More than cruelty of war you are shocked by cruelty of all those people surrounding two children. As for me, it is always really hard to watch the movies where suffering children is described...

HALLOWEEN**PART2

On 30th of October I went to super-stylish club in Shibuya called "TRUMP Room". Two dancing halls decorated by enormous number of chandeliers were packed with people dressed in different costumes... They were mostly fashion-related folks so they used their best efforts to make something fantastic - most of the outfits were handmade with paying attention to mere detail!
When I returned at 2 o`clock - Shibuya was still full of Pikachus, Witches, Devils and other monsters...

HALLOWEEN

Halloween`2010 at
Le Baron de Paris × Colette Japan Fashion Festival Vol.1 -Halloween Eve