We were invited to the premier screening of Library Wars, the Live-action movie by the kind folks at encore films. The movie will open in Singapore Cinemas on the 12th of September 2013, Thursday.
It’s planned to be up in the Cinemas for the next 3 weeks, so catch it soon!
Review
Director Shinsuke Sato seamlessly placed a fictional situation into a world which audience are familiar with. The idea of armed forces involved in protecting the rights to read did not came as far-fetched as the movie explains the sequences of events that lead to such a drastic situation.
Combat scenes were excellently directed; actors and actress brought out incredible emotions in the characters as they gave their all in defending and attacking. The graveness of the story setting is fixed right at the start, pushing audience to the edge of their seats.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou5ECcpANww
Although bloody fights were minimal, the movie managed to intrigue audiences to ponder over what it would be like if censorship was pushed to another level.
The careful insertion of various civilian lives’ snippets such as those of reporters, normal library goers and even regular folks visiting a book store gave an all-round view of a world bound by inescapable government censorship; Artfully balancing out the main bulk of stories that took place in the Libraries and Library Defense Training Grounds.
Love stories within was not only well executed, they also acted as a relief to the grimness of a war centric movie. Albeit that certain things was obvious to the audiences, the extra explanations and obliviousness of the characters did not bored the audiences but added much sweetness that made even the grown men laugh out loud in the theatre.
Library Wars is worth a catch as it came as a witty question and possible answer to what a normal real-world event could turn out to be.
A pet peeve however is, during indoor fighting scenes, torn pages of books appeared a little too much like regularly cut confetti.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaupJ7l3b0M
An interview with the cast, a bit of behind the scene,
In an interview with the cast of Library Wars, Junichi Okada and Nana Eikura, we find out more about the movie from their perspectives. Even finding out some stuff that we would never have found out.
Qns: This is the first time the two of you are acting together, what was your impression of each other?
Okada: I met Eikura-san during the outfit testing and when I saw her in her costume, I thought this film would be a great film.
Eikura: For me it was “Ah, its Okada-san!”
(Okada laughed)
Eikura: I loved the variety shows that Okada-san was involved in and have always watched them. However if I were to mention this during filming, I was afraid that our relationship would turn awkward therefore I have not told anyone. As the filming went on, my mind had subconsciously merged the image of Okada-san and Instructor Dojo together.
Qns: Instructor Dojo is an instructor from hell so there must have been a lot of intensive scenes.
Okada: It was extremely fun! (laughs)
(Eikura laughs)
Okada: While filming the training scenes, I understand it was actually quite tiring, so I increased the number of squats based on my own timing and wondered if Eikura-san can take it.
Looking at her painful expressions, it was quite enjoyable. Wait, I think I had just made a weird statement. (laughs)
Eikura: I almost couldn’t take it! It was really a hard time for me but a part in me hated to give up.
Okada: How about the director?
Eikura: Even though he is always smiling, he gives off a very strict vibe.
During the training scenes, Okada-san as Instructor Dojo is already being harsh and strict, and when the director shouted “Another take!”, at that moment, it seems like there were two demons. (laughs)
(Okada laughed)
Eikura: I thought the director must be a real demon even though he always wears a smile on his face and I could only reply, “Ok” and do another take.
Okada: The director laughed the loudest.
Eikura: I know right! It was so annoying. (laughs)
Okada: Also, director is someone who always brings his iPad, laptop, iPad mini & iPhone to the filming scenes. I thought.. Isn’t one gadget enough?
Eikura: That was the first time I had seen such an IT director.
Okada: He used his iPad on scenes to give us some directions, and is really particular about minor details.
Eikura: This film is something that needs to be really particular about small details and cannot be neglected at all. Everyone, together with the director, did not have enough rest.
Okada: That’s right, once he caught a cold and was coughing non stop and I asked if he had caught a cold. He insisted: “It wasn’t a cold!” But soon after he admitted it and wore a mask. (laughs)
Eikura: That cold was serious!
Okada: He couldn’t shout, “CUT” properly and it ended up like “KHUT” (laughs). I asked once again, “So it is really a cold isn’t it?” and he replied: “Nope, it’s the dust.”
Eikura: It is said that illness starts from the mind.
Okada: Even so, he still moves about happily like nothing had happened. I guess this had gained everyone’s trust during the production.
Qns: The filming must have been difficult.
Eikura: To me it was quite a high level of difficulties and I think I had put in my utmost effort. When we viewed the final produced film, I was shocked to see that Okada-san had high level of action scenes.
It was really cool.
Okada: The hand-to-hand combat at the hideout took only 1 day to shoot. It was quite an amazing speed. (laughs)
Eikura: The staff was a bunch of tough guys.
Okada: The storyboard was much thicker than the script itself. It became the hot topic on set… whether it is possible to finish filming. In the end we managed to make it. (laughs)
The director was so particular, do you know that the gun shot that was made by Instructor
Dojo, the bullets produced red sparks?
Eikura: Eh! I did not know about it. What colour is it usually?
Okada: Yellowish. The director is particular about making it red, so it has to be specially produced. That was a rare and important bullet.
Eikura: That was so detailed!
Okada: There was also an incident about Instructor Dojo’s bullet.
Eikura: What happened?
Okada: We used too much of the bullets and they ran out. It was a disaster. It made me realized how important is the shooting scene of Instructor Dojo, I had to film the scene with great pressure without having too much NG.
Eikura: That was scary. It was so much easier for us who do not have to worry about it. (laughs)
Okada: And also, Instructor Dojo’s gun has to shoot faster than the other guns, which also makes it difficult to fire. I was really grateful that the director noticed such minor details.
Qns: How about the scenes that make your heart skipped a beat?
Okada: Up till now, I have not really felt my heart flutter from acting, but this time round, Eikura-san has made Dojo’s heart flutters quite a number of times. For example, the scene after escaping from the hideout and reunion with Iku.
Dojo praised Iku, Iku looked at Dojo and said: “I want to look up to Dojo!” In the script there is no crying scene and I did not expect her to cry. At that moment, Dojo’s reaction can also be said that it was my real actual reaction. It was a moment that really makes my heart skip a beat…
Eikura: At that time I can really feel that your expression had become amiable.
Okada: Before the actual shoot I was thinking if I should practise on my expression and Eikura-san said: “There is no need for a test shoot right?”
Eikura: I’m sorry (laughs)
Okada: During the actual shoot I saw a different acting which also made my heart skip a beat..
Eikura: That scene, the background was to shoot with the sunrise so we only have one chance and we were pressurized. My thought was that this scene to me was my most important scene and I have to make it with only one shot?! (laughs)
Okada: At the set everyone was saying “We have to make it fast”, “The sun is rising soon”. The mood was quite tense.
Eikura: With such a pressure, I almost gave in thinking, “What the hell is this place full of guys!” (laughs) Anyway I feel that I have not given in my fullest effort yet. The feeling disturbed me quite a bit.
Okada: I am glad that I was given a chance to act in something really different.
Qns: Please tell us the charm point of Iku from Okada-san’ s point of view and the charm point of Dojo from Eikura-san’s point of view.
Okada: In the original novel, Iku is a person with a straightforward character but the Iku that Eikura-san portrays has a sense of pureness. It seems like due to Eikura-san, Iku began to have a pure personality.
This Iku who cried at the scene is able to convey herself so greatly that Dojo is able to feel the happiness and the complexity at the same time.
On the other hand, the simple wish to become a person who is willing to risk her own life for something important and also able to make my heart skip a beat is the charm point of the Iku that is portrayed by Eikura-san.
Eikura: Thank you for the compliments. I’m flattered. (laughs)
For me, when Iku was receiving the interview to become a member of the Library Defense team, she mentioned that she wants to be like the prince who saved the books and at that time she did not know the guy is Dojo. At the point when Dojo heard her comment during the interview, his expression is the charm point.
Even though he often put on a poker face, sometimes his actual feelings had already been thoroughly seen through. That point is really charming too.
Okada: Thank you for the enthusiastic comments (laughs)
Eikura-san: His facial expressions normally wouldn’t have obvious changes but can be able to move the hearts of people. I think that is really good. During some unexpected scenes, I guess it can easily capture the hearts of girls, and conversations between the guys are interesting too.
For example, the time when Iku was out casted by the main defense team, Tezuka went up to Dojo and said: “Based on ability, I’m sure I am better than her”, that effort shown to become a better person. And when Komaki told Dojo: “Ms Kasahara says, ‘I hate you, you little shrimp!’” and Tezuka replied: “That’s a bit too much!” I love the conversations in that scene. (laughs) Am I being too maniac?
Okada: Today, I came to have a different impression of you. Eikura-san is actually a maniac. (laughs)
Qns: How do you feel about collaborating together in this film?
Eikura: On the last day on set, Okada-san wrapped his scenes and was able to leave early but he stayed and waited for me. Once I wrapped up my scenes he told me “Thank you for the hard work.” and left. I was like, Eh? He waited for me all the while? He is a quite a strange person. (laughs)
Okada: Since it was the last day of production, I intend to stay throughout since we have to remove our make up and other stuffs, in the end I just greeted everyone “Thank you for the hard work.” and left. (laughs)
Eikura: Regarding the film, we had a discussion before. Okada-san wondered what genre would this film fall into. It consists of both action and romantic comedy. I think it is a film that is easy to understand.
Okada: I think it is difficult to have this kind of balance. The director, producer and scriptwriter are fans of the novel and because of that we are able to produce this film. If those who love the novel and fans of the anime can also appreciate this film as much, I’ll be very happy.
- END -
Movie information: Library Wars (2013)
Cast: Junichi Okada, Nana Eikura, Chiaki Kuriyama, Kei Tanaka
Director: Shinsuke Sato
Orginal Novel: Hiro Arikawa
Synopsis: Set in an alternate world; the Media Betterment Act was passed in 1989 and what started out as a government propelled censorship turned pervasive. Civilian has to set up armed forces to defend rights to access printed materials.
Iku Kasahara (Nana Eikura) joins the Library Defense with a strong desire to protect books but was met with an incredibly stern instructor Atsushi Dojo (Jun’ichi Okada). The pair could not see eye to eye at first but subsequently found qualities that they respect in each other.
Amidst the chaos of protecting the rights to read, romances revolving around the main characters begin to unravel.
Ticketing: http://fgcineplex.com.sg/detail.aspx?ID=206
TICKET GIVEAWAY!!
Read and follow AFACHAN to win tickets to the latest Japanese Movies! This time we are giving away 3 pairs of season passes to the movie LIBRARY WARS at Filmgarde.
How to win,
Since Library Wars is a movie about the freedom to information, comment below on which book you will fight to defend and like the AFA Channel Facebook Page to stand a chances of winning a pair of Library Wars Season passes.
- Like AFA CHANNEL FACEBOOK PAGE.
- Tell us the book you would fight to defend, below (in the comments).
- Contest ends 15th September, result to be released on the 16th of September.
- Results and decision of AFACHAN for this giveaway will be final.
This giveaway contest ends 15th September, and results will be announced on our facebook page on the 16th of September.
**If you are wondering where is Okuda’s Picture, due to JE’s online restriction Okuda’s picture cannot be posted online.
**But I *the editor* will pay to watch the movie~
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