PlatinumRead Just so...so bad

Taha Avalos The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Payno I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Phillipa Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

badidosh A few days before they perform at their school's festival, a group of high school girls find themselves in trouble after their lead guitarist broke her finger and the lead singer had a falling out with one of them. The remaining members - guitarist Kei (Yu Kashii), drummer Kyoko (Aki Maeda), and bassist Nozomi (Shiori Sekine) - have three days to find a new member and practice for their performance. In a whim, they recruit Son (Bae Doona), a Korean exchange student who has no prior performing experience and can speak very little Japanese, to be their vocalist. And because they have no time to work on original compositions, the girls decide to do covers of the Japanese rock band Blue Hearts including the eponymous song.Essentially a feel-good movie about friendship, crossing language barriers, music, and that point everyone goes through (uh, leaving a major phase of life behind), "Linda Linda Linda" presents the life of four individuals in an innocently amusing manner. The overall pacing may be slow - the editing doesn't resort to quick cuts and many scenes are simply long takes where the camera remains static, minimal dialog is spoken and instead would rely on the actors' emotions - but coupled with the soundtrack of Smashing Pumpkins alumnus James Iha, Novuhiro Yamashita's lovely direction makes the film consistently droll and bittersweet.Minimal sub-plots are added and the narrative is pretty much straightforward. The script is mainly concerned with the four girls and their music as the girls' backstories are only hinted at, mostly involving teenage squabbles. A scene showing Son and a male admirer is funny to anyone who can relate, and Son's nonchalant reply to the boy's "I love you" is painfully amusing.However, the movie's main strength is the chemistry among the girls as they struggle to rehearse and form a bond with their new vocalist despite her inability to speak Japanese fluently. Bae, whom I last saw in the Korean movie The Host, subtly delivers her deadpan humor in a natural way and her skillful interaction with her much younger co-stars is spot-on.Generally, the film is a solid effort. It's pretty much straightforward in presenting a slice of life of its characters with a plot that's not too interested in veering away from the girls and the music they play together. The result is a simple movie that's both entertaining and endearing.

ridleyrules Story told in a documentary-style, about 4 girls at a Japanese high-school campus who start a rock band. The goal is to perform at a festival of their school.The movie starts out quite flat, with a distant and static camera. While the story progresses, the movie becomes more intimate as we learn a little bit more about the characters. We see the coming together of the band, rehearsing and interaction of band members with teachers, boyfriends and family.There are not so many laughs. Script and acting are pretty straight. Highlight is the actress who plays the Korean exchange student and lead singer Son. She delivers a few very welcome comedic moments.This almost two hour long movie really takes its time to get to its point. The finale delivers, though. There is even some suspense towards the end. 7/10

James McNally I saw this film at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival. Named for a song by legendary Japanese "punks" The Blue Hearts, this film tells the story of four girls who form a band for an end-of-year high school festival. They decide to play covers by The Blue Hearts, and although the film only covers a few frantic days of practice, the pace is sometimes glacial. I'm not sure that this is a bad thing, though it felt like the film wanted to go in two directions. On the one hand, it was a typically sentimental Japanese film about the passing of youth, and the director gives us a few shots of each of the girls smiling wistfully while gazing off in the distance. On the other hand, it's a film about a thrown-together-for-the-hell-of-it cover band, and it could have used a bit more of that kinetic attitude. That being said, it was hugely enjoyable (though probably a good 15 minutes too long), and Bae Doo Na, who plays the gawky Korean exchange student, literally steals the film. Her transformation from gawky outsider to sassy singer, though unrealistically quick, is endearing. And only in a Japanese film would someone get to sing the lyrics, "Like a rat, I want to be beautiful" and make it sound heartfelt.

stevenvenn I just saw this film at the Toronto Film Fest and this is what Josie and The Pussycats should have been. This charming little Japanese film will have you singing the Blue Hearts title song over and over. A group of aspiring teenage girls form a band to perform for the high school rock festival, can they get it together? Kudos to Nobuhiro Yamashita for putting together such a cute and impressive cast of young women who make up the band who are all skilled actresses. This is a sweet film that will win over any teenage girl who ever thought that they could start an indie band (but also wins over an adult crowd with it's modest charm and it's humor). Fans of Japanese female bands like Shonen Knife and the 5678s will also dig this film I think.BAE Du-Na (Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance, Take Care of My Cat) as Song wins my vote as the most endearing oddball in this film who wins you over with her big eyes and teenage awkwardness (not to mention a lot of funny misunderstandings because she is a Korean exchange student who speaks little Japanese). Generally this is a movie that will be talked about a lot I think when it gets a full release. Hands down one of the best at the Toronto fest this year (2005).