Blog #2: The Butterfly Effect

Hi everybody! This is Kaori Shimamoto.

Today I would like to share to you all a movie I really enjoyed watching.

The Butterfly Effect is a science fiction psychological thriller movie, starring Ashton Kutcher and Amy Smart. This was written and directed by Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber. The meaning of the title refers to the chaos theory, butterfly effect, which means a small initial difference can, overtime, lead to large consequences. 

Ashton Kutcher plays the role of a 20-year-old student, Evan, and finds a journal he has kept throughout childhood. As he reads through his journal he finds out that he is able to travel back to his past. Evan had several traumatic experience in his past, so every time he went back to his past, he attempted to change how he had acted before to a different move to make everything better. One little thing may have made that moment better, but that little difference turns out to a unintended consequence in the present time. 

The film draws heavily on Evan's flashback. As audience find out what had happened in Evan's past, we see that the change he has made leads to an unexpected outcome. The new present becomes worst then before so Evan searches for a perfect outcome. 

After watching this movie it really made me think about myself and the past I have lived through. The past can never be changed and you have to live with all the fears and traumas you have gone through. 

Now, I have a question for everybody.

If you are able to change an event in your past what would it be and how do you think that would change your present self and environment? 

The time you live now is only lived once and can never be rewinded back. Life is full of decisions, but whatever outcome it leads to there is no right answer. You learn from your mistakes and it is important to know what you did wrong and how you should act in the future. I made a life changing decision to come back to Japan and there were times I had regret coming here. But all I had to do is change that feeling to something I can be proud of. Now I participate in a lot of school events and extra curricular activities so I enjoy my life now very much. I am proud of the decision I made and there is nothing I would like to change about it because you can change things now to make a better future.

If you ever go to Tsutaya, check out The Butterfly Effect! Even though this film received a poor critical reception I enjoyed it very much. They have made The Butterfly Effect 2 and 3 but I have not seen it yet. So if I ever do I would like to share it again. Thank you!

Last but not least, here is a trailer of this film.

Blog#1: A drink

Hi, this is Koyo. And it is 45 min before deadline!! wow!!

Well, I think I would like to start introducing a drink I like. When I drank it, it was amazing, like floating on air. And it smells of bread baking in the oven.

It is red wine called “ALTER EGO DE PALMER” from Margaux. I have drunk it just once. But I will never and ever forget what the taste like. If you have a chance to drink it, you should try this one. I’m pretty sure that would be a great experience for you!!

Blog #1: You will go WILD!!!

Kaori Shimamoto

Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar is one of my favortie restaurants in America!
It`s a sports viewing bar combined with a restaurant so customers can enjoy there time with friends while watching your favortie sports team play!
Of many varieties of food option they have, they are known for their fabulous pieces of wings.
From sweet bbq to blazin` hot, every time you visit, you can choose a different kind of sauce.

It is located almost everywhere in the U.S., but unfortunatly you won`t be able to get a bite on those delicious piece of wings in Japan. Their food are unexpensive so you can bring your friends to eat and chat. Not only for kids, but adults can also enjoy there time there because of the number of beers and beverages they serve.

If you ever have a chance to travel the U.S. you MUSTcheck it out!

Blog #1: Shohoumuga(諸法無我)

Hi, this is Yu Yamanashi. I feel like it's been a long time sence we last had Film Studies class, with Tuesday being a school holiday.

Did you do anything special with the day off?

I met with my friend from highschool in a cafe in Shibuya, and we updated eachother on our new college life. There was an odd nostalgic feeling, seeing my friend right there infront of me, but knowing I wouldn't be able to see her at school the next day. It reminded me that things never stay the same, and that you should saviour every moment in your life.

Speaking of change, the topic I want to talk about today is Shohoumuga. I guess everyone has heard this word before, but I learned the way of viewing yourself with Shohoumuga in an ethics class and was truly fascinated. What would you do if somebody came up to you one day to say that you didn't exist? Not in the physical sense, but in the sense that since your mind changed by the second, there couldn't be a constant "you" as a being, and that it was foolish to be so caught up in yourself. Well, that is exactly what our professor said to us.  And that is exactly what Shohoumuga means.

If everybody in the world could practice Shohoumuga, I think it would make a big difference, leading the world toward world peace. Even in a smaller scale, like talking with your friend during lunchtime, Shohoumuga could help make you less self-conscious and more relaxed. By removing the notion of self attachment, I believe we could lower the barrier we built between ourselves and others and lead a better social life. What do you think?

I would like to end my blog with a photo I took in my visit to Tateyama during Golden Week.
Looking forward to see you all in next class!

Blog #1:A restaurant I like

Hi, this is Akane. I'll introduce a restaurant of Vietnam dishes called Nha Viet Nam on the 8th floor of Shibuya PARCO. I went there yesterday with my friend, and ate pho. This was my meal.

It was really delicious.
It is common that noodle is made from wheat flour, but "pho", Vietnamese noodles are made from rice. It was like ramen, but much lighter than it.
You should try it!! I didn't try, but there were other special menu I'd like to have. I really recommend you this restaurant!!