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JMM: What did you think of the next scene which is best simply described as Hitomi relaxes by the pool.
Z: A mixed bag: the pacing and music was just wrong, but we have some of the best images we've seen of Hitomi yet, and a huge tease at the end! Given the relatively slow to medium pacing we've seen thus far in the DVD, I think it was a mistake to make this scene the slowest yet, and a kind of depressing piano melody playing in the background. And it's the same pool as the previous water fight scene.
JMM: I agree with your perspective mostly but not completely for this scene. It was slow. The music was slow too. At least the music fit the visuals in terms of pacing. But I didn't think Hitomi looked her best. The gimmick here was a loose top over the white bikini we had seen before, only Hitomi wasn't wearing the bikini bra...
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Z: ...and it's reminiscent of the tank top she wore in her first DVD/photo book, she's wearing another really loose tank top which allows the camera to get some good shots of her tits from the size, as they bulge out dangerously from the sides. JMM: Ha-ha! Do you really mean 'dangerously'? I'd say fortuitously for us viewers! |
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Z: Then, of course, we have Hitomi entering the pool at one point in her loose, white tank top. At the end of the scene, she gets out of the pool with her back to us. Unless she was wearing pasties on her boobs, it's quite clear that her tank top would be see-through and very clingy, but, of course, she never turns around...
JMM: My thoughts exactly sigh oh please, please, please show us more!
Z: I know, I know. Okay, a short interlude where she writes "Kitamura Hitomi in Saipan" on a card, holds it up to the camera, and we're off to the beach yet again.
JMM: Yes, she does hold the card up and we see it on the movie clapper board. Sadly the director does not tell her to lower it, so her face is partially hidden. But this launches the next scene, as you say, back on the beach. This time Hitomi is wearing a superb one piece light blue and white bathing suit. What did you think of the suit and the scene?
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Z: While I thought the suit was nice, and definitely form fitting, I wasn't overly impressed with it but it was a lot more practical than the bikinis idols are usually seen in. Hitomi could actually go swimming in it! A normal bathing suit in an idol DVD? Unthinkable! As for the scene ... uh ... well.... JMM: Well it was action you wanted. No doubt they talked about this scene. "Carry sand from point A on the beach to point B on the beach. At Point B place sand into your Frisbee. Pick up and carry to water. Throw sand into water." Be careful what you wish for you just might get it. This 'action' was unimaginably bad. At least her bathing suit fits spectacularly well. Z: I admit this wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I said I wanted some more motion... and I'm still scratching my head over what the point of the sand thing was. |
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JMM: The next bit of action is also disturbing. Were they 'trying' to make her look bad in returning a volleyball serve?
Z: I think it might be a Japanese sensibility thing that plays into the entire idol fantasy the helpless beautiful girl. In any case, at least she seemed to be a good sport about it.
JMM: The beach scene concludes with Hitomi lying in the shallow water on her stomach and they shoot her from various angles as the water gently washes over her. The lovely aquamarine color of the sea is gorgeous, and there's one killer smile.
Z: Of the three components of this track, the last part was the simplest and easily the most successful. Hitomi seems really relaxed and chilled out and it shows through I know watching this part made me feel rather relaxed myself.
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JMM: Next up is the required in all idol videos scene where Hitomi goes into town to shop, and she is dressed as any tourist might be. I generally like these, as the model can pick and choose what interests her; so we get genuine reactions. And isn't that red top with the white lettering very revealing?
They turn her loose in the supermarket but she's only allowed to buy big round objects. |
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Z: I love it when we get an idol dressed up in normal clothes, that fabulous plunging neckline not withstanding. If you've got a truly beautiful woman in front of the camera, here is where it's going to show and Hitomi still looks gorgeous even when she's not frolicking on the beach in a bikini or posing seductively in lingerie.
JMM: And the next scene has Hitomi playing a 'waitress-chef'. We are on a deck, and she takes our order. Best thing going on here is that this is another of the "Hitomi isn't wearing a bra" scenes.
Z: Looks like she was buying stuff for her 'restaurant' in the previous scene. In any case, I was bored to tears by the scene but loved the outfit. Why can't any of the maids in the maid-cafes where I live look and dress like that?
JMM: Ah, the old idol-does-some-cooking scene follows. Maybe this is becoming a mandatory chapter in the Directing an Idol Video course at Director's College?
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Z: It does seem to be mandatory nowadays, doesn't it? The only idol I've never seen cooking is Yoko. And why is it always eggs? At least give us some variety: ramen, steak, instant potatoes. Uh ... what did she make there? Kinda hard to tell. This is just about as close as you're likely to get to a full breast shot in a bikini idol video. Just think for a moment how the crew must have felt. MM: That was supposed to be an omelet! Anyway fade out. And we have a few moments of Hitomi filler; Hitomi holds up some coconuts strategically placed right in front of and below her boobs. Isn't this usually done with melons? Z: Maybe the director thought melons were too much of a clichι. Okay! Where are we now? Back indoors, looks like. Will there never be an end to all this rampant symbolism? |
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JMM: Hitomi is in a very unusual blue knit as she climbs the steps so we can...
Z: ...get a pretty nice view of her ass and legs, but the real story here is her top. Actually, calling it a top would be a stretch, it's a small piece of cloth barely wrapped around her chest, held together by a single, straining button.
JMM: Yes, the one button we all hope will somehow get released. This scene seems to be borrowed from the Miri Hanai style book.
Z: Old school Miri, not the recent art house Miri. And considering I love old school Miri, this is definitely a good thing. Actually, I'm quite fond of Miri in either case, but her older stuff was more up my alley. But I digress.
JMM: After a few moments of a stationary Hitomi we then get the leaping and frolicking Hitomi...
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Z: You know, Mike, this scene had a lot of problems, including bad camera work, amateurish framing, overexposure and washed out lighting, but I really enjoyed it overall: there was a really goofy sense of fun through out most of it. Plus, the visual of Hitomi jumping around in that top is not something I'll soon forget! One button holds her top together, but it's not always the same button! Between shots, has she been getting the girls out for the guys in the crew? Next scene: looks like plain old happy-snappery. JMM: we didn't expect that sudden ending, did we? How about Hitomi in a playground next? What did you think of this scene? Z: Boring, but passable. There are a few breathtaking shots of Hitomi's cleavage, as well as nice little teasing shot from below, but overall it came off as rather bland with its lack of any real action and slow pacing. |
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JMM: Maybe this scene will make you revise your comments. You said the overall direction wasn't really incompetent. I think this scene was below incompetent. Incompetent would be an upgrade. I absolutely hated that scene. At least when it ends, we find Hitomi in her hotel bedroom...
Z: Wow, that's pretty harsh! I thought the beach scene with the sand race and the volleyball was a lot worse than this one. What exactly did you find so objectionable about this one?
JMM: Maybe it was the repetitive shots of her legs, or just the lack of planning. Maybe it was the back-lit scenes where the blue sky dominated and the model was in the shadows. Or maybe the triple re-play on the slide. It didn't do a thing for me except make me reach for the remote to fast-forward.
Z: Huh... interesting take on things. Well, as you said we're in Hitomi's bedroom for a photo session. Now, I'm normally against these types of scenes as they're generally just filler, but... wow! She looks drop dead sexy posing here! The lighting, for once, is fairly well done with a blueish tint which offsets her pale skin incredibly well. I also loved the bikini here.
JMM: Well I agree. This was very nice. I thought the model look especially alluring. And they took extra care with her hair.
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