From my favorite movies..

Don't listen to the negative reviews

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Konnichiwa (Hello)Not all Asian movies are about martial arts or vengeful evil spirits. This is one such film that boldly goes on to prove just that. It is about culture, tradition, attitude, and endurance of the human spirit. Eventually, what it comes down to is a face-off between the perfectionism of the East versus the arrogance of the West, albeit in not as many words. Incorporated into an almost well written script are ample reasons illustrating exactly what makes the Japanese tick; what makes them strive for perfection and why they put their heart and soul into everything they do. I say almost well written, because the film holds its ground all the way only to end abruptly. That being said, it has a feel good ending which satisfies, nonetheless. When Abbey travels to Tokyo to spend time with her expatriate boyfriend Ethan, she has no clue of the rude shock awaiting her arrival. Even before she can unpack, Abbey is literally dumped on the sidewalk while Ethan takes off with no promise of return. Abandoned in this beautiful city yet unable to speak a word of Japanese, her life seems meaningless to a point where she suffers a mental breakdown while visiting a local noodle (ramen) house. When the proprietor reluctantly offers some solace, Abbey naively embarks on a journey of self esteem and acceptance. Soon, her interest in Japanese culture draws her in to the art of preparing the ultimate bowl of ramen, but not before enduring intolerable psychological torment from her teacher, Maezumi. Although the film claims to be a romantic comedy, elements of romance are very subtle, while humor pops up when you least expect it. As such, humor is manifested in scenes similar to when The Bride first meets the legendary sword craftsman Hattori Hanzō, in "Kill Bill: vol 1". This is clearly due to the language barrier, yet scripting is such that when the lead actors blurt out insults and abuse in their native language, the message goes across through visual disgust from sheer body language. Dialogue in this regard gives an authentic touch to the setting, even though subtitles interpret most Japanese conversations. Acting on the other hand, could have been better coming from Brittany Murphy as Abbey. Murphy's usual melodramatic style of acting complete with weird facial expressions are repeated, but somehow seems unfitting in her role here as an American struggling to understand the instructions of a Japanese cook. However, it is Toshiyuki Nishida who steals the show as the ramen cook turned master. Even with English subtitles, Nishida's portrayal of a tyrannical sensei is fascinating and his persona as a charismatic actor is evidently clear in all his scenes. Once Again, Japanese perfection.Speaking of Japan, director Robert Allan Ackerman has skillfully presented Far-Eastern culture and traditions through genuine locations, props and background music. This is not just a film on how to cook noodles, rather, rendering of the human spirit into anything that celebrates life, love and people, no matter where we come from. Considering his transition from TV movies to this debut theatrical release, Ackerman not only delivers a creative and original story fusing Eastern and Western way of thinking, but in the process announces his arrival in feel-good cinema. All in all, a decent film that takes a clever stab at cross-cultural communication and triumph against all odds. As in the end, when push comes to shove, each one of us really has what it to takes to make a difference, rise above stereotypical thinking, and achieve apparently complex goals with nothing but inner strength and an honest will to succeed.And, for what its worth, there a few easy to pick up Japanese phrases thrown in, just in case Arigatou (Thank you).

The Ramen girl is an inspirational movie, which teaches that life sometimes or often when needed, brings us trough strange and unwelcomed roads to reach our true destiny and discover our nature. The protagonist in the movie is a girl, an under-achiever who has never completed anything in her life and has a clingy relationship with her boyfriend who is a software developer in Japan. When he abandon her she fall in pieces but she resist to the temptation to go back to the USA and find solace in a ramen shoo located near her flat. She is so lonely that ask the shop owner to be his apprentice. The owner, who does not speak English, is a tough Japanese man who in his hearth is missing his young son who has left for Europe deciding not too follow the father footsteps. The girl has to endure shouting and abuse and being ridiculed, until she gets the respect of the owner and his clients. Interesting is that the girl is trying to learn to cook ramen in the western way, thinking with the mind, while the owner tries to make her understand that for the perfect ramen broth you need to use your feeling and emotions which are the ingredients that the customer ultimately is buying. Finally the girls become a ramen chief, open her own shop and find the love of her life

If you have seen the Japanese movie "Tampopo" (1985) you'll certainly know what I mean by the slur that I put in my summary.While The Ramen Girl has many a good quality, and Brittany Murphy was an excellent choice for the part as Abby, there was still something missing, or how it was stated on her broth, "it is bland".That in itself is not meant negatively. It simply means that there is not a full-fledged soul.There's plenty of meat both on the bone and in the broth, but still there is something missing. A pinch of salt, maybe? A certain lack of understanding for the Japanese culture that only Japanese can understand? This is the secret of the Ramen itself, a search for perfection, and not before the Ramen Grand Master has had his say, there will be acceptance.Go see Tampopo, and you'll know what I mean.

How sad that Brittany Murphy is gone. This movie is fantastic, Brittany is great in this movie, one of her best. How sad that Brittany Murphy is gone. This movie is fantastic, Brittany is great in this movie, one of her best. How sad that Brittany Murphy is gone. This movie is fantastic, Brittany is great in this movie, one of her best. How sad that Brittany Murphy is gone. This movie is fantastic, Brittany is great in this movie, one of her best. How sad that Brittany Murphy is gone. This movie is fantastic, Brittany is great in this movie, one of her best. How sad that Brittany Murphy is gone. This movie is fantastic, Brittany is great in this movie, one of her best.