Anime Fandom Terms, and movie: The 4 Feathers

[timepiececlock]

The following is a useful page that defines many common terms used in anime & manga fandom, some English and some Japanese. I found it useful, though I had already picked up most of these on my own by now.

Frequently Used Terms

----

Watched The Four Feathers. It reminded me of a bit of one of the more thematic quotes of the film Fight Club. See my icon for the quote itself.

Honestly, given time you can find a quote from FC to apply to anything.

What did I think about t4F? Not much. Mostly, I came away respecting the actors, respecting the cinematographer, and respecting Heath Ledger's biological parents for producing such an attractive male face. Wes Bently might actually be a shade more handsome than Heath Ledger (WB's eyes are to kill for), but the mustache thing gave him a faintly villan look that kinda creeped me out. Also, said eyes make his stare so intense I almost want to stop looking at him/the screen because of it.

Anyway, I thought the director was good with individual scenes, but didn't know what the fuck he was doing in the movie as a whole. And the plot was muddled and had false endings and at multiple points failed to clarify the motivations of many characters.

But hey, desert: pretty. Points to the cinematographer. And points to the make-up crew too. The actors certainly looked quite wretched for much of the time.

Mostly, I found it hard to get into this film. It was going everywhere and nowhere all at once. Probably makes a much better book. As it was here, it reminded me of a bizarr mix between Pearl Harbor and Les Miserables. ...Except the girl's emotions are pretty clear in this one, and she actually goes with the right person at the end. For a second I thought I'd have to hate the movie over her character, but they fixed that.

Family conversation (best as I can recall my Dad's words) while watching yet another scene of the British Imperial Soldiers in an unhappy confrontation with the Sudan locals:

ShakaDada: So it's all the British's fault, then, as this stuff has been going on for at least a good 100 years, no wonder the Arabic world hates us.
Rashaka: Actually, the Crusades did start way back in the Middle Ages. **points at screen** And technically, that's not us.
ShakaDada: Well sort of. White Western World.
Rashaka: Hey, this is 1880 something. Enough of our ancestors are on the other continent by now that we don't have to take credit for British Imperialism. Let's swallow Slavery and Manifest Destiny and call it a day.

Comments

[kimberly-a.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the pointer to the page of Japanese terms. Like you, I had figured most of them out from context, but I still found the page interesting and useful. I had been finding the honorifics, in particular, sometimes difficult to figure out. I wasn't sure what it meant when Kagome added on a -kun to the end of Koga's name, for example.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

actually, "kun" is the one suffix where I've gotten the most variety in definitions. Mostly like this one though, some in more detail.

[kimberly-a.livejournal.com]

The definition I'd arrived at purely from context (in the manga and in fanfics, the latter of which are probably not a good source) was something like:

- refers to a young man
- indicates familiarity
- indicates affection

I actually know someone living in Japan right now. I suppose I could ask her, but it has just never seemed all that important.

Actually, er, now that I think on it for a moment, two of my very closest friends often visit Japan and are quite familiar with the culture. I should probably just ask them. Duh.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

That's the basic definition I've gotten too, though I know it's less affectionate than -chan. Also, it's used by adults to young boys, even if not affectionately.

[mrthursday.livejournal.com]

The original 4 feather is a much better film. Did you know this was a remake?

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

I thought it was taken from a novel, not another film, but I knew it was remaking somehow. Not surprised.

[mrthursday.livejournal.com]

It may be a novel originally, but I'm not aware of it. But the original movie was the sort of film that cropped up on Tv on rainy sundays!

[saava.livejournal.com]

respecting Heath Ledger's biological parents for producing such an attractive male face.

1) Bwha ha ha!
2) I couldn't agree more.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Let's have a right good squeal over Heath Ledger Goodness, hmmm?

He"s sO FIne !!OMG!!1!!SQUEEEEEE!&#(!*&#*(!#!!!

[saava.livejournal.com]

Squeeeee!!!

I so can't wait for that movie starring him and Orlando Bloom. Even if, as my sister put it, their prettiness is partially covered by skanky beards.

The Four Feathers

[blackholedebris.livejournal.com]

Two things stand out for me when I think of this film:

1. I loved, loved, loved finding out who *hadn't* given Heath Ledger's character a feather. Made me feel love towards that character (I'm trying not to be spoilery).
2. The relationship between Heath Ledger's character and the African(?) he developed a strong bond with while he was in the desert. I found that scene with HL's character losing what was left of his pride due to starvation, desperation, etc. and the African's expression as he witnessed what had become of his friend so moving.

And also? Totally agree with the strong scenes but not-so-strong-as-a-whole-movie remark.

Re: The Four Feathers

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

1. I liked that too, knowing who it was and wasn't from.
2. I found I liked that character a lot as well. However, I had a fundamental problem throughout the whole movie in that I couldn't figure out why he was going to so much effort to help the main character. It didn't make sense to me.

Re: The Four Feathers

[blackholedebris.livejournal.com]

2. I guess that is kinda odd now that I think about it. But I'm foggy on the details of when they first met because it's been a while since I've seen that movie (I need to watch it again on DVD). As soon as I walked out of the theater, though, I wanted someone to slash those two. ;)

Re: The Four Feathers

[blackholedebris.livejournal.com]

WTF? Why's the date/time screwed up? It's the 5th, not the 6th. And 8:57 pm, not 1:50 a.m. Oh, well.