'Jiro Dreams of Sushi' (2011)

"Once you decide on your occupation... you must immerse yourself in your work. You have to fall in love with your work. Never complain about your job. You must dedicate your life to mastering your skill. That's the secret of success... and is the key to being regarded honorably." -Jiro Ono

  The opening lines of 'Jiro Dreams of Sushi' just about sums up the life philosophy of the master sushi chef, Jiro Ono. This documentary takes us into the life of a remarkable man. A man who has dedicated seven decades of his life to the art of making sushi and is still tirelessly honing his craft. His restaurant has earned the prestigious Michelin Guide 3 star. I will admit, I have very limited knowledge about sushi. After seeing this documentary, I realize just how much work and art goes into making the perfect sushi. 
 Even in his 80's, Jiro is shown working hard as ever doing what he loves doing. It was inspiring to see such a high level of dedication to one's work. Jiro's philosophy on hard work can be universally understood and speaks to all of us. I hope I can strive to have the level of dedication to my work and life as Jiro has demonstrated. 'Jiro Dreams of Sushi' is a welcoming insight into a foreign world and has a message that we can all take in. If you are a fan of documentaries, I highly recommend watching this gem. 


IMDB-7.8/10
Metascore- 77/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 99% Audience- 93%
Yong's Rating- 4/5 stars

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)#*@

There are certain movies that are simply more just a movie. 'Grave of the Fireflies' is one of the most haunting and brutally honest movies I have ever seen. Also one of the most depressing movie as well. War is not pretty and it makes no attempt to hide the fact. Its images and message will always be in my memory. Set in Japan during WWII, the film tells the story of young brother and sister who loses their mother during a bomb raid. Seita and Setsuko lose everything they have and are left to do whatever they can to survive on their own. The animation is gorgeous and it captures both the good and the bad times perfectly. This is a movie that you just have to experience on your own to get a feel for it. It's always hard to rate a movie like this one and frankly I don't think it really matters. I highly recommend that you give it a try in the future.

#IMDB- 8.3/10 (#124 of 250)

Rotten Tomatoes- Critic-96% Audience-93%

* One of 1001 movies you must see before you die

@Ebert's Great Movies

Yong's Rating- 5/5

Departures (2008)

Departures is a Japanese film about a young cellist who returns to his childhood home from Tokyo after losing his job with the orchestra. Unable to afford the expensive life style of the big city, Daigo has to take his wife back to his hometown in hopes to get his life back on tract. Back home, a fateful encounter with a newspaper ad leads Daigo to a career that seems as if he was meant for all along. Departures is truly one of the most beautiful film I've ever seen. The acting as well as the beautiful cinematography draws you in and leaves you with a sense of peace. So, if you are looking for a film with genuine human emotions then consider checking out Departures.

IMDB-8.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes-critics-81% community- 87%
Yong's rating-8.8/10 (highly recommended)