VOL.135／138 LOVE×3 journal 第 14 回 Hitoshi Okamoto／第 17 回 AZUKI 七

●○○ From music freak magazine Vol.135

LOVE×3 journal
LOVE LOVE LOVE Journal
Vol.14
Hitoshi Okamoto

LOVE × LOVE × LOVE
MUSIC　BOOK　CINEMA

His selection
CINEMA

How is everyone doing? This time, although I am neither a movie buff nor a connoisseur, I picked out a few films I would recommend.

♥　CUBE
An unusual suspense film. It is not the kind of movie that hinges on its story; it is a battle of ideas! First of all, I have to take my hat off to the nerve it takes to make an entire film using only such a limited space and such a limited group of people. It exposes, almost too vividly, the actions people might take when they are driven into a corner. This is one you should see.

Director: Vincenzo Natali
Cast: Maurice Dean Wint
　　　Nicole de Boer
　　　and others.....

♥♥　8 Heads in a Duffel Bag
Black comedy. It is a farcical story set in motion when a hitman's bag containing eight severed heads is mistakenly taken at an airport. I love those “No way!” kinds of developments. It is in poor taste, but very funny. Recommended for anyone who wants to laugh at a movie without having to think too hard.

Director: Tom Schulman
Cast: Joe Pesci
　　　Andy Comeau
　　　Kristy Swanson
　　　George Hamilton
　　　Dyan Cannon
　　　and others.....

♥♥♥　Pleasantville
I happened to catch it when it was shown on late-night television at the end of the year. It was quite interesting. This fantasy follows a twin brother and sister who enter the world of a black-and-white television drama from the 1950s and cause a commotion. The people who awaken as their intellectual curiosity is stimulated are wonderfully endearing. I think it is a film well worth watching.

Director: Gary Ross
Cast: Tobey Maguire
　　　Reese Witherspoon
　　　and others.....

Hitoshi Okamoto (guitar) <pictured right:>
PROFILE:
Alongside his work as GARNET CROW's guitarist, he has worked as a composer and arranger for a great many artists, including ZARD, Mai Kuraki, Miho Komatsu, Aiko Kitahara, Hayami Kishimoto, Shiori Takei, Akane Kanzaki, and Aika Takaoka. As a solo artist, he has released two singles and two albums to date, displaying his wide-ranging talents by handling everything himself, from vocals to every instrumental part. GARNET CROW will release its latest single, “Rai・Rai・Ya,” on March 1.

※ “LOVE×3 journal” is a relay feature in which a different artist each month introduces things they currently recommend from the three fields of music, books, and films. We hope readers will enjoy reading it while wondering excitedly who will be featured this month!

●○○ From music freak magazine Vol.138

LOVE×3 journal
LOVE LOVE LOVE Journal
Vol.17
Nana AZUKI
(From GARNET CROW)

LOVE × LOVE × LOVE
MUSIC　BOOK　CINEMA

Her selection
CINEMA

Hello everyone, this is Nana AZUKI.
This time, I would like to introduce my recent favorite film, *LORD OF THE RINGS*.

♥　LORD OF THE RINGS

Is it a little late? I suppose so. Surely most of you have already seen it.
I only finally watched it quite recently.
I am, so to speak, a fan of the original books, so I avoided watching it because I did not want the images in my head to be ruined.
Then I happened to catch a glimpse of one scene, became completely captivated, and went straight out to rent it the next day.
What is so good about it? Well, it is beautiful! Simply beautiful! Orlando Bloom!
No, I mean the elf Legolas, played by Orlando Bloom.
Please stay an elf forever. Please refrain from showing too much of yourself with that mohawk.
It makes me feel as if I have seen the person inside a costumed hero. It ruins the dream.
It was a film that made me feel Orlando Bloom as an elf was worth preserving forever!

Nana AZUKI (pictured lower center)
PROFILE: In addition to writing all the lyrics for GARNET CROW, she has provided works for many artists, including Hayami Kishimoto, Shiori Takei, and Sayuri Iwata, and has also written the lyrics for Hitoshi Okamoto's solo works. With a keen sensibility that “draws inspiration even from ordinary days,” she subtly expresses the emotions hidden deep in people's hearts. She is also deeply versed in literature, and her varied use of written characters and distinctive readings offer glimpses of her ideas and philosophy. GARNET CROW held the fan-club-only “Valentine LIVE 2006” on February 13 and 14, 2006, and released its new single “Rai・Rai・Ya” on March 1. From April 2, the new song “Yume・Hanabi” has been airing as the opening theme for the TV Tokyo anime *MÄR*, with its release set for July 5!!

※ “LOVE×3 journal” is a relay feature in which a different artist each month introduces things they currently recommend from the three fields of music, books, and films. We hope readers will enjoy reading it while wondering excitedly who will be featured this month!