Friday, Jan. 13, 2006

The Final Cut

Director: Omar Naim Language: English Currently showing

[See Japan Times movie listings]

The story, penned at age 26 by director Naim, is set in the near future, when people can have microchips that record everything implanted in their brains. After death, their stored memories are edited by a "Cutter" for a "Rememory" commemorative ceremony. Although Alan (Robin Williams) is a sad man, traumatized by an incident in his childhood, he is the top Cutter at Zoe, the company that makes the chips. He eventually has to face his ex-colleague Fletcher (James Caviezel), who now leads a group that opposes the technology, and a dilemma arises when Alan must edit the memories of a evil Zoe executive.

Fun with Dick and Jan

Director: Dean Parisot Language: English Currently showing

[See Japan Times movie listings]

"Fun with Dick and Jane" is a remake of a 1977 comedy in which a married couple turn to robbery to make ends meet. Dick (Jim Carrey) is an executive for the corporate giant Globodyne, living in the suburbs with his wife Jane (Tea Leoni) and his son. Just after he is promoted to vice president, the company collapses, and in anticipation of Dick's promotion, Jane had already quit her job. So when they start to lose their possessions one by one, the couple decide to take to a life of crime to pay the bills.

As it is in Heav

Director: Kay Pollak Language: Swedish, English and Italian Currently showing

[See Japan Times movie listings]

Eighteen years after his acclaimed film "Love me!," Swedish director Kay Pollak has returned with a stirring human drama that broke records in Sweden. Successful conductor Daniel (Michael Nyqvist), exhausted by his busy life, returns to his home village. When he is asked to teach the local church chorus, he meets people doing their best just to get through life's daily ordeals. Through coaching chorus members, Daniel regains his passion for music, and his love for life.

Chicken Little

Director: Mark Dindal Language: English Currently showing

[See Japan Times movie listings]

In Disney's first in-house, all-CGI animated film, Chicken Little gets the whole town into a panic by mistaking a falling acorn for a piece of the sky. After the incident, poor Little becomes the butt of his fellow townsmen's jokes. When a real piece of the sky hits his head, he must figure out together with his misfit friends, Abby, Runt of the Litter and Fish Out of Water, how to save the world.

The Cave of the Yellow Dog

Director: Bayambasuren Davaa Language: Mongolian Currently showing

[See Japan Times movie listings]

Bayambasuren Davaa got a Mongolian nomad family to participate in a film that is part documentary, part fiction. The openness of their faces and the force in their eyes are striking, and 6-year-old Nansa (Nansal Batchuluun), who reputedly did not understand what in the world a camera was, steals every scene. The story revolves around a friendship between Nansa and a stray dog, but the movie is really about innocence, gratitude and genuine joy. (Kaori Shoji)

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