[Movie Review] Rise of The Guardians

Title: Rise of the Guardians

Story by: William Joyce

Directed by: Peter Ramsey

Type: Computer Animated Film

Studio: DreamWorks Animation

Release Date: November 21, 2012

Synopsis From Wikipedia:

The spirit of winter, Jack Frost (Chris Pine), describes how he came to be hundreds of years ago, lifted from the ice by the Man in the Moon, and has been invisible ever since because people don't believe in him. At the North Pole, North, better known as Santa Claus (Alec Baldwin), is alerted that Pitch, the Bogeyman (Jude Law), has returned and is threatening childhood with fear. After summoning fellow Guardians the Tooth Fairy (Tooth) (Isla Fisher), the Easter Bunny (E. Aster Bunnymund) (Hugh Jackman) and the Sandman (Sandy), North learns from the Man in the Moon that they are to induct Jack as their new member. Jack is brought to North's headquarters and they attempt to swear him in. Jack, frustrated by centuries of isolation caused by children's disbelief in him, declines to join. Regardless, North persuades him to cooperate for now by explaining their mission and the looming threat of Pitch.

[Movie Review] Rurouni Kenshin

Title: Rurouni Kenshin

Story by: Nobuhiro Watsuki

Directed by: Keishi Ohtomo

Country: Japan

Language: Japanese with subtitles

Release Date: December 5, 2012 (Philippines)

Starring:

   Takero Sato as Himura Kenshin

   Emi Takei as Kaoru Kamiya

   Yu Aoi as Megumi Takani

   Munetaka Aoki as Sanosuke Sagara

Synopsis from Wikipedia

Rurouni Kenshin takes place during the early Meiji era in Japan, telling the story of a wanderer named Himura Kenshin, formerly known as the assassin "Hitokiri Battōsai". After participating in the Bakumatsu war, Kenshin wanders the countryside of Japan offering protection and aid to those in need as atonement for the murders he once committed as an assassin. When arriving in Tokyo in the 11th year of Meiji (1878), he meets a young woman named Kamiya Kaoru, who is in the middle of a fight with a murderer - who claims to be the Hitokiri Battōsai - tarnishing the name of the swordsmanship school that she teaches. Kenshin decides to help her and defeats the fake Battōsai. After discovering that Kenshin is the real Battōsai, Kaoru offers him a place to stay at her dojo noting that he is peace-loving and not cold-hearted, as his reputation implies. Kenshin accepts and begins to establish lifelong relationships with many people such as Sagara Sanosuke, a former Sekihō Army member; Myōjin Yahiko, an orphan from a samurai family; and a doctor named Takani Megumi. However, he also deals with his fair share of enemies, new and old, including the former leader from the Oniwabanshū, Shinomori Aoshi and his rival from the Bakumatsu Saitō Hajime.

[Movie Anime Review] The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Title: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Screenplay by: Satoko Okudera

Directed by: Mamoru Hosoda

Country: Japan

Language: Japanese with subtitles

Type: Animated Film

Studio: Studio Gallop, Madhouse

Release Date: July 15, 2006

Synopsis from Wikipedia:

Seventeen-year-old Makoto Konno (Riisa Naka/Emily Hirst) lives with her family in the Shitamachi area of Tokyo, Japan. Makoto lives with her parents and younger sibling Miyuki (Yuki Sekido/Shannon Chan-Kent). Her aunt Kazuko Yoshiyama (Sachie Hara/Saffron Henderson), is an art restorer at the Tokyo National Museum. One day, when Makoto discovers a message written on a blackboard at her high school, she inadvertently falls upon a mysterious, walnut-shaped object. On her way home, Makoto is ejected into a railroad crossing when she loses control of her bicycle and is struck by a train. She is transported a few minutes back in time to before the accident. Kazuko explains to Makoto that she has the power to "time-leap", to literally leap through time. At first, Makoto uses her power extravagantly to avoid being late, to get perfect grades on tests, and even relive a single karaoke session for an entire hour, but Makoto soon discovers that her actions can adversely affect others.