[Movie rec] Ao no Honoo (The Blue Flame)

[barbosa2007]

Netizens claim that this was probably the movie which helped Nino pass his Hollywood auditions. I am inclined to agree, judging from the way he delivered the entire film. I personally like this film the most amongst Nino's shows. While searching videos related to the movie, someone had posted the entire film with English subs on Youtube. I recommend that you go watch it here and buy the DVD. 



Synopsis: Kushimori Shuichi (portrayed by Ninomiya) is a high school student living with his sister and mother. One day, his stepfather returns home after 10 years and begins to terrorize his family, much to Shuichi's horror. Shuichi then starts to plot ways to get rid of his stepfather in order to save his family.

The tagline, 僕は、独りで世界と戦っている, translates as "I am battling against this world all on my own."

[SPOILERS BELOW]


I feel that the tagline personified Shuichi's character in the film; indeed, in many ways, he was alone. He sleeps in a garage that is annexed to his house, he speaks his mind into his tape recorder when no one else is listening, he keeps his innermost thoughts to himself, and the list goes on. 

A review by Durang0 from Finland highlights what I loved from the movie, so I'm going to quote him/her: 

"At first I thought the movie's main function was probably to deliver cheap thrills, raise sympathy in the easiest way, speak against domestic violence, tell a moral story or to portray some typical teenage drama. Before the last minutes I still wasn't sure what to make of it, as it seemed to end without any final conclusion. But then when the ending came it blew me away, even if the viewer guessed what was going to happen long before. The point wasn't about what happened, but how it happened and what we got to know about the main character. Who is this guy? Is he a manipulative scoundrel? A hero that saves his little sister? A criminal that learns a crucial lesson? We don't know this for sure before the last scenes.

In the final scene, when Noriko was holding back her tears, the main character's list of favorite things is narrated. Here he finally reveals himself. He was not a hero nor a bad guy, just a typical teenager with his little enjoyments in life (with a hint of soon beginning adulthood). After all the schemes Shuuichi pulled and all the lies he told, the knowledge that he was at the same time insecure and vulnerable made me feel an emotive connection that I haven't felt watching movies in a long time."

In the same way which Shuichi narrated a list of his favorite things at the end of the movie, I'll make a list of what I loved about the movie here: 

• The sense of loneliness which Nino emits. With a pensive and distant look, Shuichi always seems like he's in a world of his own. Even as he bids Noriko farewell in the final moments of the movie, he doesn't open up in front of her, but rather, leaves a tape recorder as proof of his existence. 
• The vulnerability of Shuichi. Interestingly, whenever blue light is used in the movie, Shuichi is at his most vulnerable and honest state. The one time when we find Nino close to tears, it was not tears of sadness, but rather due to relief that he was not left to be alone.
• The use of Pink Flyod's song, "Post War Dream" in the opening sequence. 
• In Shuichi's list of favorite things, he mentioned that he liked Faye Wong's singing.

Comments

[baboy-19.livejournal.com]

thanks for sharing.. I've been dying to watch it..

[barbosa2007.livejournal.com]

Loving your Ohno wink!

[baboy-19.livejournal.com]

Thanks

[criyu.livejournal.com]

for me too, this is one of his best movies and one of my favourite! I was really moved in different way.
This kid that with a clear mind planning to kill a man... his whole world is in his mind, seems he doesn't care about anything, but at the same time we feels his fear of "not being in the world". he's alone, didn't even know the meaning of leaning to someone...until the end of the filmç_ç
at the end I was really speechless, I was quietly watching the credits until the end XD

[barbosa2007.livejournal.com]

Yes, you're right! I feel very connected to this movie, and I empathized with Shuichi's constant loneliness. I kept replaying the last scene. Nino's narration is always great.

[keshigomiu.livejournal.com]

I love this movie.
It's one of those few movies I feel depressed after watching because the directing, the script and Nino's acting just sucks me in too much!
Even though some years passed since I watched the movie for the first time I still have no words for the recorder scenes.. No one has ever made me listen to each and every word they say than when Nino just stared into nothing and talked into that recorder. His character is so odd, but still you can relate to his feelings.

Nino's presence and the way he carries his character is amazing.
I think this is his best work, and I want him to get such a heavy role again. Of course, he's had his great moments after this too, like 'door to door' or 'Marathon', but I believe 'Ao no honoo' is so far the best collaboration between director, scriptwriter and actor in Nino's career.

[barbosa2007.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I remembered after the last scene, I just stared blankly at the screen for a while. Nino's acting was chilling in some places. He's every bit the 18 year old you'd expect in the movie.

I think "Door to Door" and "Marathon" catered to a broader audience and required a happier tone. I like Nino when he's doing angsty best XD

[keshigomiu.livejournal.com]

It's a bit sad to know he has that great acting and way to convey his feelings in him when watching the latest works of his.

Of cours he's acting really well, I have nothing at all against his acting in freeter, Ōoku, gantz and so on, but it hasn't got the special feeling and commitment like Ao no honoo or yasashii jikan, my two favorites of Nino's. ^_^

I also like him best as angsty! It's too bad those angsty pieces always have such a small budget Arashi won't accept in their current situation. But I'm just glad he's been able to do it at least once in his career, and we can only hope there'll be more.

I would have liked there to be a dvd of strangers on a train stage play though, out of the ws and reports I've seen it had quite a similiar feeling to Ao no honoo.. At least it was in the same heavy category.

[barbosa2007.livejournal.com]

Maybe Platinum Data might work his acting skills more? I think his roles, while popular, have been slightly boring as of late. Kushimori Shuichi remains one of my favorite characters.

Strangers on a Train sounds good! It would have been nice to see Nino act live. We had that with Ohno and Aiba, didn't we?

[keshigomiu.livejournal.com]

I do hope so, but to me the storyline sounds.. a bit boring, and from what I've read it feels his character doesn't have any impact. But I really hope I'm wrong, I want some impaci acting from Nino again! To bad it's such a long way to the release! T_T

Yes, both Ohno's Tensei Kunpu and Aiba-chan's kimi to miru sen no yume has been released on dvd. Oh-chan's is nice, and I was surprised to see Aiba act better on stage than before the camera ^_^

[barbosa2007.livejournal.com]

I think Ohno comes alive on stage. He did mention before that he missed performing live after watching Matsujun's stage play last year.

Aiba's acting... didn't really get me interested XD He's still sweet though.

[abs-vanness.livejournal.com]

i want to dl this for itouch!!!
tnx for the link!!! really love how nino acted here...
i hope he can like this character again...

tnx!!!

[saru-k.livejournal.com]

thanks for sharing!!

[iloveohmiya.livejournal.com]

Call me your LJ stalker my dear! :D hahaha.

My friend is watching this movie right at this very moment and I envy her. And while stalking you LJ, this is what i see. I so miss this movie! :D This is probably the best one for me too, I dunno. It just gives me a really different feeling. It is angsty, yes. But I have come to appreciate this movie so much. Hands down to Nino's acting. :)

[barbosa2007.livejournal.com]

Oh, this LJ has become semi-friends only, but I will still post non-personal stuff for the public to read, like this one.

I feel that Nino is the most natural in this film, so to speak. He could probably relate to the character's feelings.

[purple-pe.livejournal.com]

This is the movie that I never get bored with!
This is Nino's personal best! I think Ninagawa Yukio brings out the best of Nino,,,NinoxNinagawa collaboration are the best!

I've also watch a fancam of Nino's butai "Shibuya Kara Tooku Hanarete" long long time ago which also directed by Ninagawa. Unfortunately, I don't understand Japanese at all and they talked a lot in this stageplay,,,i get bored and stop watching T____T

[barbosa2007.livejournal.com]

I would be so bored, so I get what you mean when you said you stopped watching because you couldn't understand the dialogue.

Yes please! We need another Nino x Ninagawa collaboration!

[nurikocam.livejournal.com]

for me this is nino's best movie as well.. it gives me goosebumps while watching it., it such a creepy movie but at the same time i admire how good nino is in it. but i dont think i cant watch it again. lol. this is the reason y i always wish that the direcotr of this movie should work with nino again coz he dfinitely bring out the best in him. i owuld pray for that to happen again. <3~

ps. i would like to see nino's strangers on a train as well, i think it was such a great butai, if only they could record it on dvd :( he should act as an antagonist or someone who's having personal issues, it think thouse types of scripts would fit him.

[barbosa2007.livejournal.com]

Yes, he needs to be a proper antagonist. I thought that GANTZ might have been a good outlet for him, but the script felt superficial to me and I never really empathized with the characters in the first place.

Strangers on a Train... Man, I wish I was there to catch it in Japan!

[qeqeqe.livejournal.com]

i just finished watching this movie, just few minutes ago, and i feel i need to search review or comments or something like that from internet.

how do i say this? this movie made me little scary. not about the story, but the character. nino seems acting out himself. loneliness, feels apart from the world, and the ambiguous words from his character, just like nino.

i admitted that nino really suits this kind of role. pshyco, poor, under pressure, ill, abnormal.

[barbosa2007.livejournal.com]

You should read Durang0's review on IMDB; I found it to be the most compelling review anyone ever made about this movie:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0400174/reviews

[emee25.livejournal.com]

aahh..nino's acting really leave a big impression for me..i just knew this movie by reading ur post (i know..stupid myself!) and this makes me wanna watch the movie..but i'm affraid for the impact after watching this.usually this genre of movie makes me sad for several days (can u believe,perfect answer's ending stuck in my head for 3days?!).from ur review abt this movie, i'm pretty sure this will cause a greater impact for me..T_T but i still wanna watch this XD
thank u for sharing this :)

[barbosa2007.livejournal.com]

If you want to, we can talk about the movie here. I find that talking or writing about the movie helps to relieve the depression it causes, haha.

I had a friend (non-Arashi fan) who watched the movie and felt very depressed afterwards too.