The Secret Garden

Last night I saw the 1996 movie: Himitsu no hanazono . It was a simple yet fun movie. Fun for the whole family and something everyone could relate to. James xoxo.

As the title suggests Shinobu Yaguchi's "The Secret Garden" is a fun romp from start to finish. As y'all may have gathered from my reviews I'm a huge Shinobu Yaguchi fan I love his movies Swing Girls and Water Boys they have a certain brand of humour that's just so funny- people act in the craziest of ways like no human would and that heightens the whole experience, there's no real antagonist- only accumulated craziness and fun that's not only from the protagonist but the surrounding cast as well- it's as if the world Shinobu Yaguchi directs is a cartoonish version of the real world which I do appreciate since reality is seldom fun.

The Secret Garden follows Sakiko a girl that is obsessed with money since childhood, that obsession leads her to do such funny and actually great (?) things that normal people would get commended for if they did, many people usually talk about being particularly inspired by noble things such as knowledge, strength etc... but in Sakiko's case her sole driving motive is only money which is so funny because movies usually depict money-hungry people as people doomed and immoral so it's funny to see how the other extreme looks like and it's funny as heck.

The comedy is tightly packed in this 1 hr 23 min movie giving you almost no place to rest, if it would've been longer then it wouldn't have made sense so I really appreciate that it's short!

The cinematography is also simple and effective, very great shots throughout the movie, it looks gorgeous even if it was made 1997- also the soundtrack with Irish motifs (perhaps a hint on the luck of the Irish/leprechauns with money?) is so funny, it gives the movie a jolly tone throughout.

Check this movie out for a fun romp that'll tickle your funny bone. Shinobu Yaguchi is such a talented director!

My Secret Cache (aka My Secret Garden) is a winning, deadpan comedy - thanks mainly to the winsome soundtrack, and the hilarious performance of Naomi Nishida.

Akiko (Nishida) has always liked money, but her job as a bank teller left her a little disillusioned. In a twist of fate, she's kidnapped by hapless bank robbers, leaving her a only taste of wealth. So, she the long way to get that money back.

Nishida's character is said to be "ugly" by a few characters, but at best, she's cute and almost cluelessly blunt. Since she's in nearly every frame, it ends up being a story of a young woman's realization that once you find inner wealth, money inevitably follows.

A naive notion? Perhaps, but Cache is a completely disarming comedy, and the slapdash special effects and editing can't erase its basic charm. It's fine on video, but the film really works with a live audience.

This is a very funny japanese comedy. Explaining the plot (basically, it's about a young woman's search for a treasure and the extent to what she will go to do it) will not do the movie justice. Specially funny it's the main actress impassive deadpan performance.

This would be my first Japanese movie other than monster classics like "Rodan". It will likely be my last Japanese comedy. Although the cast is game, the humor is somewhat lame. A few sight gags, but for the most part it seems very repetitive and the use of "stunt dolls" is another glaring negative. I'm sure Woody Allen doesn't play big in Japan, so my missing the Japanese humor here in the United States really isn't surprising. "My Secret Cache" is not a bad movie for the right audience, and I am certainly not trashing it, but as comedic entertainment the movie failed to impress................................MERK