＜Review in English＞ I like Spy movies. So really enjoyed this movie. Although the plot was a little fa-fetched, it had great twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your chair. Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) is an action heroine just like Jason Bourne or James Bond.
＜The Plot＞ CIA agent Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) is rescued from being tortured by North Koreans just in the nick of time when her boyfriend Mike arranges a prisoner swap. A few years later, they have married and are living in Washington D.C. Mike pursues his professional study of spiders. Suddenly, a Russian spy master, named Orlov shows up at the CIA as a defector. He reveals a scheme whereby a large number of Russian spies have infiltrated American society. The spies were trained and brainwashed by the KGB as children. He names Salt as one of the spies. Salt claims that she is innocent and asks her boss, Ted (Liev Schreiber) to call her husband. Salt decides to flee to seek out her husband. Ted does not believe she is a Russian spy but Secret Agent, Peabody(Chiwetel Ejiofor) orders his agents to capture Salt. The movie follows her while she is on the run.
身近なものを武器に変え、CIAからの追跡を逃れる様はまさに女Jason Bourne
＜Spoiler warning＞ Actually, Salt never kills people during the movie. She only wounds or disables them until she can escape. Orlov and his well-trained henchmen have hatched a bold plan to assassinate the US President and send nuclear bombs to the Middle East. Where will her allegiance lie? The truth is that Salt is a Russian spy, sent to work at the CIA in the US as a double agent. But when Orlav has her husband killed, she starts to question her loyalties. Although she used to think of Orlav as her comrade, the murder of her husband and her knowledge of Orvol's plot to kill the US president, convinces her to put an end to Orlov and his henchmen. In the end, she escapes by jumping out of a helicopter into a lake and as the movie ends we see her running through the woods. I think this means a sequel, as she had explained that there are lots more embedded Russian spies in the US.
September 29, 2011 I woke up around noon after a late-night drinking session. My friend left for the US in the early morning. After I took a shower, I went to a cafe to have brunch. I found a nice cafe called "EAT." near my hotel. "EAT." provides real homemade food (sandwich, soup, coffee etc) at reasonable prices.
There are more than 100 EAT cafes in London. I saw some EATs here and there around London. The shops are modern and clean. The staff are friendly. I ordered a vegetable pie and fruit salad.
The taste is extremely close to a real homemade pie.
If EAT. catches on in Japan, it would be popular among young Japanese people. I really want them to start business in my country.
After eating brunch, I went to Slone Square. This area is one of my favorite places in London. It's very cozy. I walked along the King's Road and enjoyed shopping.
I decided to take a double decker bus from Slone Square to Piccadilly Circus. The view from the top of a double decker bus is just like sightseeing. I was interested to notice that on the second floor of the bus, there is a monitor at the front, showing us the driver's eye view. It must be connected to a camera downstairs.
There is a monitor at the front, showing us the driver's eye view.
I finally got to Piccadilly Circus and went straight to The Prince of Wales Theatre. The show started at 19:30. The theatre was almost full. The most of audience were singing and dancing with actors and actresses. I really enjoyed seeing "MAMMA MIA". "MAMMA MIA" filled me with energy. I finished my journey by watching this uplifting show.
September 28, 2011 I was thinking about visiting Buackingham Palace because I saw a poster at the tube station during my stay in London. The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress took centre-stage in the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace during the annual Summer Opening. I tried to book a ticket on the Internet. However, the tickets were sold out.
I should have booked the ticket beforehand.
I decided to go to the National Gallery. I went there on my first day in London, but I didn't have enough time to see the exhibits. I paid ￡3.50p for a Multimedia Guide. The Gadget guided me through the gallery efficiently. After I enjoyed seeing some exhibits, I went to the Prince of Wales Theater to get tickets for "MAMMA MIA". It was easy to get good seats at the box office. After getting the tickets, I went to Monument to see my friend. He was my English teacher in the past. He taught me English for 3 years. I intended to take him out for lunch but he treated me. He made a reservation at a restaurant for us. The food was really delicious.
The food is delicious at Butcher at Leadenhall
After I met my friend in the City, I returned to my hotel and took a break. I walked around "Tower Hill", the area near my hotel. Tower Bridge and The Tower of London are the landmarks in this area.
The Tower of London
Tower Bridge
In the evening, I went to dinner with my friend. I really enjoyed having Indian food. There are many Indian restaurants in London. I went to a traditional English pub after having Indian food. The pub is called the "Pommelers Rest", which is on Tower Bridge Road just a block from the Thames River. The atmosphere was very English.
＜Review in English＞ The movie was made as a comedy drama film written and directed by Stephan Elliott in Australia in 1994. Actually, I didn't know about it. When I decided to watch a show in London, I checked which show is the best in the west end. Priscilla's reputation is good. I needed to understand the story before I watch the show. The story and music are wonderful. I discovered this good movie by chance.
3人のドラッグクィーン（女装する男性同性愛者）のロードムービーだ
＜Plot＞ The usually menacing British actor Terence Stamp does a complete turnaround as Bernadette, an aging transsexual who tours the backwaters of Australia with her stage partner, Mitzi (Hugo Weaving) and Adam/Felicia (Guy Pearce). Their act, well-known in Sydney, involves wearing lots of makeup and gowns and lip-synching to records, but Bernadette is getting a bit tired of it all and is also haunted by the bizarre death of an old loved one. Nevertheless, when Mitzi and Felicia get an offer to perform in the remote town of Alice Springs at a casino, Bernadette decides to tag along. The threesome ventures into the outback with Priscilla, a lavender-colored school bus that doubles as dressing room and home on the road. Along the way, the act encounters any number of strange characters, as well as incidents of homophobia, while Bernadette becomes increasingly concerned about the path her life has taken.
3人の掛け合いが実に面白い
What a great movie! Not only are the actors wonderful but also the musical numbers (ABBA, Gloria Gaynor, the Village People, Charlene etc) are worth watching. I laughed at their barnyard jokes and bitchy banter. I was moved to tears by the story of two drag queens and a transsexual. Watch it it's well worth it ! It well deserves 9 out of 10. If I have a chance to see the show, I'll absolutely see "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert ".
＜レビュー日本語＞ この映画はステファン・エリオットによって脚本及び監督された映画で1994年にオーストラリアで作られている。実のところこの映画は知らなかったのだが、ロンドンウエストエンドでミュージカルのショーを観る前にどれが一番人気なのかあれこれ調べているとこの「The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert」が評判が高く、観劇の前にストーリーを知っておこうと思ったのである。 ストーリーも音楽も素晴らしかった。（映画の方、ミュージカルは未見） 思いがけずいい映画に巡り会ったと思う。
It was easy for me to understand the exhibits that way.
Although I walked around the museum for 3 hours, I hadn't finished seeing all the exhibits that the Multimedia Guide included.
I wish I had learnt about the exhibits I was interested in beforehand.
I recommend that visitors to the British Museum should do research beforehand.
I decided to take a break in the coffee shop at the museum because I was tired of walking around.
When I tried to pay the cashier, the cashier refused my cash.
I changed some yen to pounds 4 years ago, so my currency was old and wasn't distributed in the UK.
I had to go to a bank to change the old currency into the new currency.
I felt uneasy because I walked around the city without carrying cash.
I found a bank near the museum and got some new currency.
The lady I was dealing with at the bank was very kind.
After changing the money, I went to Harrods in Knightsbridge. Compared with the situation 2007, the number of customers has decreased.
A posh area, like Knightsbridge might be swallowed by the wave of the recession. I bought some things in Harrods and went to MARKS & SPENCER to get some food. The cooked food I bought in the store was really delicious. I thought the food in the UK was not good. However, the quality of UK food is improving. I love rhubarb crumble. Unfortunately , I don't have any chance to buy it in Japan.
September 26, 2011 I woke up at 8:00 and went to the restaurant to have breakfast in the hotel. The restaurant provided a bountiful buffet breakfast. I tried the grilled tomatoes. They were really delicious.
I walked the 5 minutes from the hotel to the tube station. I was worried that my Oyster card might have expired because I bought it 4 years ago. However, I was able to go through the gate. I got off at Charing Cross and went to The National Gallery. I explored the gallery quickly because I was expecting to meet my friend at 13:00. So, I couldn't take my time to enjoy the beautiful paintings. I decided to come back again sometime in the future. I met my friend and spoke about what we would do that day. We decided to watch a show at night. I requested to watch "Ghost". I love the story line and the show is not in Japan yet.
We tried to book tickets on the Internet or by phone. However, there were no seats available. We went to Piccadilly Theater by taxi immediately. Fortunately, we were able to get tickets at the box office. Then we walked around Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden. When we passed "The Trocadero", he nostalgically remembered having a good time there in his youth. It must be a place that holds many good memories for him. Then we went to two English Pubs and enjoyed drinking. We were having a conversation and talking about our memories and recent events. We were staying at "The Devonshire Arms" until the time the show started. The staff were friendly and the food was good in the Pub.
The show was fantastic. I really enjoyed it. The actors and actresses performed very well. The story-line was reproduced from the original movie precisely.
September 25, 2011 I was leaving for London from Narita airport to meet my old friends. My company gave me a one-week vacation as a length-of service award this autumn. It was a first time to fly Virgin Atlantic. The seats were almost full on the plane. I enjoyed watching some movies during flight.
Jusst Go with It
Bridesmaids
Tha Adjustment Bureau
"Bridesmaids" was the funniest movie of the three.
Unfortunately, the movies were played only in English (without Japanese subtitle), so I did not understand the story precisely. However, I understood the plot and enjoyed them.
I watched a TV drama called "The Big C". I've been a big fun of Laura Linney ever since she played the role of Sarah in "Love Actually". Do you remember Sarah? She has been in love for years with her company's creative director, Karl. A tryst between Karl and herself is interrupted by Sarah's mentally ill brother, Michael, and this effecively ends their relationship.
This show also played only in English. (without Japanese subtitle)
I finally arrived at Heathrow airport in London. I got on the Heathrow Express and got off at the terminal, Paddington. I took a cab from Paddington to Tower hill. It cost ￡30 from Paddington to the hotel. It was OK because the driver was very kind. After I checked in to the hotel, I decided to walk around the hotel to get a bottle of water. Although there were some beverages in the fridge in my room, I wanted to keep a bottle of water. It was already 8pm. I finally found a newsagent near the tube station.
*A newsagent's shop (British English) is a business that sells newspapers, magazines, snacks and often items of local interest. In Britain and Australia, the person who operates such a business is said to be a newsagent. Newsagents typically operate in well-trafficked public places like city streets, railway stations and airports.
＜Review in English＞ I enjoyed this movie. Law Abiding Citizen has very unique, clever story twists that kept me tightly on my seat waiting to see what was going to happen next. It was unpredictable and thrilling. It is not only a thriller, but also raises questions about the American justice system. I didn't know about the detail of plea agreements, but I got to know about them through this film.
興行的にあまり話題にならなかったがもっと評価されていい作品だと思う
<Plot> Clyde Shelton(Gerard Butler) is a family man whose wife and daughter were brutally murdered during invasion. When the killers are caught, Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx), a hotshot young Philadelphia prosecutor, is assigned to the case. Against his will, Rice is forced to offer one of the suspects a lighter sentence in exchange for testifying against his accomplice. Ten years later, the man who got away with the murder is found dead and Shelton coolly admits his guilt. Then he issues a warning to Rice: either fix the flawed justice system, or key players in the trial will die. Soon Shelton follows through on his threats, orchestrating a string of ingenious assassinations from his jail cell. Now Rice finds himself in a desperate race against time facing a deadly adversary who always seems to be one step ahead.
Gerard Butlerの壊れっぷりが半端ないので恐がりの人は注意
Gerard Butler does a fantastic job of taking out his vengeance against the justice system. Although he is a brutal killer, I realized that I am on his side. The movie has several twists and turns that will keep you guessing, and on the edge of your seat. The ending is controversial. But I agree with it.
＜Review in English＞
Actually, this movie is not my type. But I think that I should write my review to say something about the wonderful cast in this movie.
The fighter is not just a sports drama. It's rather close to a family drama with a boxing background.
Plot Based on a true story, The Fighter is about an unlikely boxing hero played by Mark Walhberg. Dicky and Micky are brothers with the same passion for boxing but Dicky blew it all away by straying into the wrong path. Micky on the other hand is the punching bag for his opponents although he has a gutsy left hook. When things get worse, Micky is forced to do the unthinkable, to split with his family and pursue his interest while training without his brother. Micky later gets the shot of a lifetime at a title fight but it soon becomes clear that he will need his family by his side if he wants to win. (written by Klue)
ボクシング映画というより人間ドラマだ。女性でも抵抗なく観れる。
Christian Bale's peformance is amazing. He lost weight and pulled out his hair for the role. He delivers a character who was a former boxer and now wastes his life addicted to crack cocaine.
His performance deserved The Best supporting Actor Oscar.
Christian Baleは元ボクサー、今はコカイン中毒の40男、痩せ方、頭頂部のハゲっぷりなど迫力あり過ぎ。
Amy Adams also excels in her supporting role; a bartender and college dropout.
She seems to be the right person to push Micky(Mark Wahlberg) toward the right path.
She wants to achieve success in her own life by making Micky successful.
＜Review in English＞
Although this movie got a low rating, I enjoyed it very much.
I like the movies which don't use the latest computer graphic techniques and digital gadgets in the story.
You can enjoy a wonderful journey in Venice as you're traveling with Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp.
It begins with Elise(Angelina Jolie). She is the girlfriend of Alexander Pearce (a mysterious, unseen) who is an international thief that seals from incredibly rich gangsters. Everyone is looking for him, including the British Secret Service as well as some gangsters who want revenge on him for taking their money. Elise is instructed by Pearce to go Venice by letter. What an old fashioned style! He never sent a text message from his mobile phone. In his letter, he writes "Get on a train to Venice, choose a stranger that looks like me and make the gangsters and the secret service believe it is me". So she picks Frank Tupelo(Johnny Depp) on the train. Frank is an American tourist. He is a math teacher from Wisconsin. He looks a little unsophisticated and boring. After that , Frank and Elise spend the night at a hotel in Venice.
The movie was directed by Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck, who made the Academy Award winning: "The lives of Others".
It's my favorite. It was a heavy human drama.
It's strange for him to move from that dramatic weighty film to something to light and frothy.
The whole story a suspense. However, I didn't need to keep on my toes until the surprise ending. There are boat chases and gun fights, but they were underwhelming.
There are quite a few funny moments (Johnny speaks Spanish in Italy) There was some clever wit in the movie. I saw Frank like Jack Sparrow. The story line of the movie is predictable but it does manage to surprise it's final moment.
I recommend this movie to movie fans who get terribly frustrated by the current noisy fast paced movies. It was more interesting than I thought.
ビッグスター2人（Johnny DeppとAngelina Jolie)で周るベニスの景色は最高
Johnny Deppは野暮ったい冴えないアメリカ観光客。でもさすがJohnnyのウイットの効いたジョークは健在
＜Review in English＞
This is a great chick flick and superb love story.
Garret Blake (Kevin Costner) is a widower. He wrote a message to his deceased wife and put the note in a bottle and threw it in the ocean. Theresa Osborne (Robin Wright Penn), is a divorcee with a son. Theresa is jogging and finds the bottle with the note. The bottle contains a message addressed to a Catherine (Garret's wife), and goes on to say how sorry the writer is for "not understanding" and "not helping in her time of need". The more she reads, the more she feels the love the writer has for this Catherine, and how much she really meant to him.
Theresa has to find out where the writer lives. She is a researcher/writer and tracks him down and decides that she should meet Garret. When she goes to meet him, she meets his dad Dodge Blake (Paul Newman). He and his son are close and they watch out for each other. The cinematography is terrific! This movie is a love story, with touching moments and with sad moments. Especially, there is a big surprise at the end. I enjoyed watching it.
大人のラブストーリーとしてはかなり上質
The story line seems unlikely. However the ocean scenery is wonderful.
