GS Wonderland

I love music.  Musical documentaries?  Not so much.  Don't get me wrong, I mean, I did enjoy School of Rock (which is sort of a documentary, but hilariously rendered), but as far as flicks like The Doors and This is Spinal Tap, they really didn't do much for me. 

One movie I did enjoy was Linda Linda Linda, with its quirky narrative and choppy, subtly abrupt editing.  The characters themselves were endearing, as you got to watch them form their band from start to finish, ending with a live performance that culminates their collective thoughts, dreams, and efforts.  It was one of those films that combined that "growing up" aspect while keeping the story clearly focused on the music, like a how-to guide on starting your own band.

Now comes this quirky, 60's infused, Beatles-inspired Japanese movie GS Wonderland, starring Chiaki Kuriyama (of Kill Bill fame) in a movie recounting the era of the Group Sounds (GS for short) phenomenon that overtook Japan.  According to twitchfilm.net, the movie's soundtrack is being composed by actual musicians from the era, which was a great idea to keep it realistic.  The premise alone will probably be an instant-sell to fans of the era and movie / music enthusiasts alike.  I guess another dip into this genre might change my mind...

Judge it for yourself, and watch the trailer from twitchfilm.net: