Mike Yokohama - Shinji Aoyama

[Stefan Nutz / Nuzumakifilms]

Don, thanks for the information and the details.
best regards,

stefan nutz

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Don Brown" <the8thsamurai at hotmail.com>
To: <KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2004 6:24 AM
Subject: RE: Mike Yokohama - Shinji Aoyama


> >i was wondering if anybody on the list can comment on the success of this
> >series in
> >japan. I heard that the first episode (most terrible time in my life) was
> >released in the US on
> >dvd, but is this also a part of the 12 TV parts, or a seperate movie?
>
> The Hama Maiku saga starring Nagase Masatoshi began with a trilogy of
films
> directed by Hayashi Kaizo: "Wa ga Jinsei Saiaku na Toki" (The Most
Terrible
> Time in My Life), "Haruka na Jidai no Kaidan o" (Stairway to the Distant
> Past) and "Wana" (The Trap). Despite sharing some recurring characters,
the
> narratives are self-contained. The first two films are well worth a watch,
> but the third is a bit of an incoherent mess and doesn't really add much
> overall.
>
> The 12-part TV series from 2002 revived the character and introduced a new
> supporting cast including Matsuda Miyuki, Koizumi Kyoko, Ichikawa Miwako,
> Murakami Jun and a bevy of ex-gravia models. It again featured unconnected
> stories, each with a different director, and despite screening in prime
> time (I think it was on around 9 or 10pm on Monday nights) each episode
> managed to preserve the filmmakers' distinctive flavor. I think that this
> was largely responsible for the generally poor ratings the series
received;
> its 'indie cinema'-esque style gave a lot of leeway to the directors, and
> probably non-plussed the wider viewing audience accustomed to the usual
> orthodox TV drama fare. A bit of a grand experiment really, and one I
> thoroughly enjoyed, but on the other hand I think it would have been
better
> suited to a midnight slot which is where most of the more interesting
telly
> ends up.
>
> Don Brown
>
>