E.G.

Don't need any apologies re Kimura from you my dear. I mostly agree with your opinions. I have not seen RAIN and the short clips were mostly of the gruesome scenes with Hartnett.I think Kimura must have done something to please the director but really he does not have the English come to his tongue as smoothly as desired. He is trying dear boy. He wondered if he should do that role since he is Buddhist by the way.

Most of the SMAP group have some English but they don't often use it on TV.

I will wait to see what Ralph says about RAIN.

Off topic. Just watched a film called POISONING which is an old one with Lee Byung Hun. Very dramatic and he does his lovemaking sans clothing this time. Well there was a slight bed sheet somewhere. Got a nice bot.

Peg

Do not get upset if you read this news. This is about another man named Kimura Takuya. He is not the actor!

Kimura Takuya san passed away by a subarachnoid hemorrhage. 37. Not �ؑ���Ɓ@but �ؑ����. Ex-baseball player.

According to Japan Today:

HIROSHIMA —
Yomiuri Giants infield and running coach Takuya Kimura died Wednesday at a Hiroshima hospital after suffering a brain hemorrhage, Yomiuri said. He was 37.

brad2 wrote:

E.G. I will wait to see what Ralph says about RAIN. Peg

Sorry but I got turned off in the first 10 minutes. I do not watch dramas that frolic in realistic brutality. It's OK in stories such as Swallow The Sun where it's a definite part of the story line and where the brutality is more implied than displayed for shock value. The daily brutalities on the news are more than I care to watch already. In addition since you all infer that KimuTaku just has a small part there is no need for me to continue.

Ralph.

thanks for your post. I was in the same mind because every time a clip was put up for this film it was so revolting. I wondered how Kimura could have been in such a film. I later learned of course that his role was only important for the sake of the story and only very small and apparently not part of the brutality concerning Josh Hartnet. I have not watched this film and do not intend to do so. I doubt this will show in movie houses generally.
gone to DVD but even then it does not appeal as a film for everyone.

Peg

It's not too often that I decide a film is not one for me to watch. However I remember that when I was younger they made the first (I think) KING KONG film with Fay Wray. The pre- showing ads were scary, especially that great ape holding Fay Wray standing on top of the Empire State Building. All this was pre TV and were clips shown before a main film in movie houses.
It had such a strong impact that I averted my eyes from the screen and would not read any notices in the newspaper. Never did see that film. Fay Wray was a good screamer.

Peg

Oh Peggy, you dear.

(I don't remember the Fay Wray version, just the Naomi Watts version, lol. I dunno, but this Peter Jackson remake gave a story about a giant ape a very human and heartfelt spin. Actually made me root for the poor gorilla. )

Ralph and Peggy,

Kimura's character in RAIN doesn't receive any violence from Josh Hartnett's end, but (you really want to know?)...

Click on button to reveal/hide spoiler:

...but Lee Byung-hun (playing a mob boss) gives him a nasty crucifixion in the final sequence of the film.

***

Enna, thanks for setting the record straight. R.I.P. Kimura Takuya, ex-baseball star...

Ender's Girl wrote:

Kimura's character in RAIN doesn't receive any violence from Josh Hartnett's end, but (you really want to know?)... Click on button to reveal/hide spoiler: ...but Lee Byung-hun (playing a mob boss) gives him a nasty crucifixion in the final sequence of the film. ***

Thanks EG. Now I'm glad I did not waste my precious drama watching time on this drama.

I'm with you Ralph. Sounds mean and nasty. Actually Kimura wondered if he should do this role since he is a Buddhist. I wish he hadn't. He certainly showed his compassion by letting those insects crawl all over his face.

I used to do Passion Plays years ago at Easter time in the church. We never showed Jesus Christ in person but had a man with a wonderful voice offstage. It was very effective. Did not show the crucifiction either. Things used to be much better in the imaginatiion .
I suppose I am sounding like my own mother when I say I don't know what the world is coming to.

Who is Naomi Watts????? Not that I need to know really.

Peg

Oh, the Jesus allusions were all superficial bunk, anyway. Despite its religious pretensions, RAIN had absolutely nothing to do with Christianity, so Kimura was in no danger of compromising his beliefs or whatever. But then, even if the movie had been thematically more weighty (as regards Christianity), it shouldn't have been a problem for an actor like Kimura, whose job is simply to essay different characters -- regardless of his personal views.

brad2 wrote:

Who is Naomi Watts????? Not that I need to know really.

Naomi Watts (Aussie actress, long-time best bud to Nicole Kidman who happens to be my all-time fave Hollywood actress ) played the Fay Wray part in Peter Jackson's 2005 King Kong remake. Naomi Watts is a really talented (albeit underrated) performer. Besides King Kong, she had some very memorable roles in Mulholland Drive, 21 Grams and Eastern Promises (!!!).

Thanks E.G.
I still don't know the Aussie actress because I have not seen any of those movies. I hardly ever see any of the newer things from Hollywood.
I don't go to movie theatres because it hurts my eyes to sit in the dark and then come outside into bright lights or daylight. In fact it mkes me blind as a bat.

I think Kimura had slight thought that others might be offended because he was not Christian faith. but directer straightend that question for him.
I don't think he was against doing the role.


Peg

"REDLINE" voice cast features Kimutaku

The voice cast for the Madhouse-animated film "REDLINE" was revealed on Friday. SMAP's Takuya Kimura is the biggest name on the list, but the cast also includes Yu Aoi and Tadanobu Asano.

Directed by Takeshi Koike, "REDLINE" is a car racing story set in the near future. JP (voiced by Kimura) is a daredevil racer chasing after his first love (Aoi). Along with his partner (Asano), JP competes in the greatest race of all.

This is Kimura's second movie voice acting role, after the 2004 Studio Ghibli film "Howl's Moving Castle." For Asano, this will be his first time as a voice actor.

"REDLINE" has reportedly been in development for the past seven years. The film is scheduled for theatrical release in Japan this October.

I just finished Tsuki no Koibito, and even though it wasn't one of Takuya's better doramas, I enjoyed it a lot, mostly because it had him in it. I wonder when we're going to next see him in a dorama...

Hi peeps! Came across this forum & thought I'd be a part of it! Long vacation was my very first japanese tv series I watched back in the late 90's. Actually this is not true, I've watched numerous back in the late 70's early 80's then I stopped (gosh revealing age info here:)) Back then I would watch the series all dubbed in Cantonese not in Japanese and was totally hooked. Then for some strange reason never continued until I started watching LV in Japanese w/ only chinese substitle. I did that for the reason of practising my Chinese reading. Anyway, cutting a long story short, I since have been catching up w/ all Kimura's tv series. I've just finished the Moon Lover, kinda enjoyed it but found the taiwanese actress a bit too weak which sort of spoiled the series for me. But all in all was pleased w/ the ending.

Kimura, not by any means "the most handsome" sorry dont shoot me here..... but captivating. He is one extremely talented actor. In all of the series he's been in he has played his characters so believable & so well done I have become a fan of his. Now, I wonder when will he be on tv again? I'm sure its gonna be sometime w/ everything else that he's currently doing (SMAP concert this summer right?)

Long Vacation was my first dorama too, and then I too began watching all of Kimura Takuya's dramas. His talent in acting and charm has made him my favourite Japanese actor
I think he'll be in a movie this December, Space Battleship Yamato.

curlycurls,
SMAP is definitely going on the concert tour, but in Japan. They are promoting their new album at the moment. The Chinese Expo people cancelled their concert in the Pavilion because they were afraid of the crowds. SMAP were disappointed. I think maybe later on they just might do a show in China.
Moon Lovers was a very poor drama and got poor ratings. Not the usual Kimura thing at all. I personally put the result on the casting of Chi Lin. She had too much dialogue and was in too many episodes. Too many scenes in every episode. Her Japanese was very poor and although the plot called for a Chinese actress they should have chosen someone with more experience. There are so many lovely Chinese actresses who would have been better at this job.
Takuya should have taken the role in Ryomaden which is playing now. He would have made a great Ryoma Sakamoto. I guess they thought it would have taken too much time away from the SMAP schedule.
I have been on the Kimura bandwagon for about fifteen years or so. I love him for his talents and abilities.

Peggy

brad2 wrote:

curlycurls, SMAP is definitely going on the concert tour, but in Japan. They are promoting their new album at the moment. The Chinese Expo people cancelled their concert in the Pavilion because they were afraid of the crowds. SMAP were disappointed. I think maybe later on they just might do a show in China. Moon Lovers was a very poor drama and got poor ratings. Not the usual Kimura thing at all. I personally put the result on the casting of Chi Lin. She had too much dialogue and was in too many episodes. Too many scenes in every episode. Her Japanese was very poor and although the plot called for a Chinese actress they should have chosen someone with more experience. There are so many lovely Chinese actresses who would have been better at this job. Takuya should have taken the role in Ryomaden which is playing now. He would have made a great Ryoma Sakamoto. I guess they thought it would have taken too much time away from the SMAP schedule. I have been on the Kimura bandwagon for about fifteen years or so. I love him for his talents and abilities. Peggy

Hey brad2... Maybe it was a good thing not making it to China Expo. What i've seen on the news it was one big confusion & the crowd too overwhelming. Several exhibitors booths have been trampled and broken already so u can imagine the crowd..

Funny, I was watching Long Vacation/Love Generation rerun and I still very much enjoyed it.... To me it was like watching reruns over and over again of Friends and never getting bored of the story line. This time round I can really see how much Kimura has grown and matured over his 15yrs or more of his career.

Another thing I find very impressive w/ him is how private his private life is. His family is completely out of the limelight. I think thats a very smart way to live and enjoy his down time w/ his family w/ out the paparazzi interfering.

I admire the way Kimura has kept the paparazzi away from his family. SMAP has been carefully protected since they became so famous. Everywhere they go now there will be security around although you won't see them. I can't understand why Kusanagi got away from them when he got so drunk. They didn't protect him then did they. Police were too vehement in their treatment of him I think.

Kimura is a very sensible adult I think. He works hard and gives his all to the job but he keeps his family safe and sound.

Their new album is just out and soon they will on the concert tour.

Peg

I'm so happy that Kimura Takuya and SMAP are still going strong And I really want to see him in a good dorama soon. Tsuki no Koibito was the first of his doramas I didn't like, though I still liked him and his acting in it. I just love the guy, and I admire how he has kept his family away from the paparazzi too.

Other then being a good actor..... I've noticed of all the Asian actors he is one of the best on screen kisser! seriously have u seen the Hong Kong tv series actors kiss.... cringe....

Quote:

Other then being a good actor..... I've noticed of all the Asian actors he is one of the best on screen kisser!

Haha I totally agree with you about that, he's one of the best onscreen kissers I've seen...