RSSMiri Hanai – In Secret
08 Jan 2009 4 Comments
in Reviews
Miri Hanai – In Secret (August 29, 2008)
Bunkasha
Catalog # BKDV-274 – All Regions Disc – 4:3 Aspect
Running Time: 60 Minutes
The Skinny: This is the first Miri Hanai DVD in quite sometime. Play-Asia has it listed as out of print. CDJapan fails to list it if you search for Miri Hanai but does list it if you use the Catalog number. I offer that info for you in case your trying to locate it. Meanwhile she looks as sexy as ever. Short and stacked. No other way to put it. And still a beautiful woman. BUT….
The video gets off to a slow start. A rather uninspiring montage is followed by a chapter called Miri Talks. There’s no surprise when we see Miri in a pink bikini talking to us. She says, “Hanai Miri desu,” which means simply I am Miri Hanai. She has more to say, of course, but you’ll probably enjoy watching her rather than listening to her. You’ll notice her curvy body, but you may also notice the use of dissolves rather than cuts. But on the whole, other than Miri’s smile and figure, the scene is forgettable.
Second Chapter is called Feel. In the beginning, it looks as if Miri is handling the camera herself, as she has both arms extended at the angle which approximates the camera’s angle. But this concept, even if true, is quickly abandoned. Miri poses in a doorway, turned this way or that way, while the camera swirls around her – in, out, up, down, pan left, sweep down. Despite this movement we become aware that this dwelling looks more like it is in Santa Fe, New Mexico, or near a desert, rather than in Japan. One other point: there will come a time when Miri will unbutton her blouse, then somehow it becomes buttoned again.
Three is called Examination. Miri is presented as some sort of a Nurse for those who might have a fetish for latex, or platform shoes with stiletto high heels, or pain. Again the camera movements are studied, with repetitive pans from left to right, again, and again and again. While the taut latex skirt makes Miri’s tush seems remarkable, and her top is so deeply cut that she needs to wear faux-leopard-skin pasties to cover her nipples, this scene is a little too exotic for my taste. The lighting doesn’t flatter Miri, the camera motions, and the enormous injection that we absorb as Miri sticks it to us,with a huge toy syringe, makes this scene come off as mildly threatening. Maybe she likes this style, but I think most of you will not like this scene.
As Four opens we find Miri laying on the floor. We are up pretty close so we can’t see much of her. She begins talking to us – “Ohayo gozaimas – Good morning”. Then I next understood, “Neko desu - I am a cat”. The image directly above is just after she has said this. Sure enough, Miri portrays a cat or rather a feline in this scene which is appropriately called – Cat.
Again, the director resorts to a series of annoying camera movements. And again the lighting isn’t very flattering. I’m beginning to think that this DVD is rapidly becoming an art film, the kind of film that when you leave the theater you are asking , “What was that all about?”.
Miri has wandered down this path before. Maybe these conceptualizations are of a particular state of mind. Whether these are Miri’s or the Director’s I can’t say. We are left to guess.
But they’re less than ideal. While it is true that Miri’s costumes are revealing, and her superb figure has enormous appeal, this DVD will not appeal to you if you are expecting a more basic gravure DVD. These scenes require much more effort by you the viewer than you may be accustomed to, or want to do.
Five leaves no doubt that this is a one-trick-pony type of Video. Once again, as the scene opens we seemingly have Miri adjusting the camera angle. Once again she talks to us. This time I was able to pick out, ‘Kuroi desu‘ which literally means I am black. Sure enough, Miri is decked out with a huge black feather boa, over a black corset. The chapter is called Corset Glamor. The highlight is Miri’s make-up and jewelry. The rest of the time you are subjected to annoying and repetitive camera movements as well as some intentionally blurred images. Miri eventually removes the top bandeau leaving her to cover her breasts with her arms. There’s a brief moment when we see she is wearing gold star pasties – but this image, a very brief glimpse of a corner of a star, may have been accidental, as we do not ever see these pasties in full view.
Six is called Bond. Not as in stocks & bonds, and not as in Bond, James Bond. This setting is about bondage. Miri plays two roles in this one scene. One is the somewhat punkish, somewhat butch, woman who metes out punishment. She wears black, with zippers, and buckles, and brandishes a riding crop.
Her other role is what else – the victim. There’s a bed with black sheets, and a black fur throw. Miri sits on the bed and in a long, long take of nearly twenty seconds, she just sits there, with no movement, holding up a huge rope that she’s going to be tied up in.
Cut to the other character for a brief visit. When we return to the victim, she’s trussed up but standing. We leave her, but when we again come back to her, she is is suspended in air, horizontally, as the ropes are anchored to the iron beams attached to the ceiling. She’s completely immobilized, helpless, and completely passive.
I guess it is no secret any longer.
Miri’s career began as a gravure idol but seemingly has strayed quite far from those romps on a beach in a bikini. Maybe this scene is Miri’s Passion Play. While she’s not been crucified, she is totally immobilized, and cannot be extricated from this bondage on her own.
Could this be her rebellion against her objectification by men based on her beauty and her curvy body? By portraying herself in this type of scene, she is both punishing us, for desiring her voluptuous body, and punishing herself for becoming the object of such lustful thoughts.
Maybe this is too much analysis by me. But for sure, Miri must have some reasons for appearing in this kind of stylized scene. Okay – if you don’t want to show off your boobs and buns – that’s fine. Get yourself a significant other, go off, and enjoy your life. But trotting out a scene of being roped and tied and made to dangle from ceiling doesn’t do anything for me. I’m left with no choice but to try and understand, or rather, guess at her motives.
And maybe it was all just a goof. In Seven, Called Body Language, Miri appears in a beautiful bra and panties set in Midnight Blue. For sure this scene will fire up your libido. She’ll first apply some oil to her body.
In the second part she’ll be in a bathtub, and well see her lift a bottle of milk to her lips and then proceed to pour virtually all of it over her body. Eventually she is blindfolded and someone else pours the milk over her lush body. Finally – a great scene for all the boob-men.
The Last chapter is called Wet, and has Miri in a bathtub. She’ll eventually be wearing just a lot of soap bubbles. While this scene wasn’t done all that well, at least it was played for fun. Miri offers us a lot of smiles. and we do get to see that her boobs are bare except for some plain pasties late in the scene. This time the music is playful as is Miri. A much needed change of pace. Too bad it is the last of the main chapters.
The DVD closes in Miri’s dressing room. She’s got her hair down, and she happily talks to us while wearing a big terry cloth bath robe. She’s animated, seemingly in good spirits, and apparently she’s telling us that she worked hard but enjoyed making this DVD. Well, Ms Miri, we’ll show our appreciation in just these few syllables – Otsukaresimas-deshita. Which means – thank you for your hard work.
Summary: Short on glamor, long on directorial gimmicks, and possibly made to send a not so subtle message. Miri has been away from the cameras for too long, and her agent may need to re-think her career path given the choices they made for this DVD. Of course that is just my opinion. But I did my best to lay it out for you, my readers. If you enjoy seeing Miri in this type of video, then go for it. It’s not so much that it is a bad DVD, it really isn’t – but it does sacrifice beauty in exchange for some puzzling scenes and attitudes. Maybe the intent is to provoke rather than to excite. The attempt to redeem the video with some sexy and teasing scenes at the end does save the video from being a total disaster, but it is too little, too late.
Either way, I like what I like – and I disliked more than I liked in this one; therefore I can’t give Miri more than a two point seven five for her work in this DVD, In Secret from Bunkasha.
Jan 09, 2009 @ 09:34:10
It’s been a while since I’ve commented on here, but 2.75? Mike, did you and I even watch the same DVD? At least a 4 on your scale, although IMO I would have gone about 4.5. Although, let’s face it, this is not the first time we’ve disagreed over DVD, nor will it be last, I suspect.
The production values were, overall, quite good. The costuming and makeup departments were on the ball and actually gave us something other than the typical bikinis and lingerie all the time (yay variety), lighting was good although a little washed out here and there and I found the camera work to be excellent through out except for track six, where it was mundane at best, and editing did not help.
In roughly her first year as an idol, Miri produced typical (although at the time risque in regards to the amount of flesh shown) idol videos. After that, though, things started to change… her projects did tend to trod down somewhat more “experimental” avenues. With DVDs like Climax and Bust Out! ~Gorgeous~, and photobooks like Aiyakko Run Run in her catalogue, either Miri was excising some creative control over her projects or she was being very picky with offers sent her way (and that brings a whole other slew of questions concerning the business side of her career, but I digress). I suppose the point here is that is somewhat known for being on the artsy side of thing, yet you honestly seems surprised by some of what was offered here.
And specifically, track 6 – I think you’re over analyzing things. Way over analyzing things. Even as far back mid-2004, there has always been some implied or light bondage themes in her photosets and videos. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find and idol in the past 8 or so years who hasn’t been tied up or restrained at some point for the camera. Aside from some the “darker” themes which tend to appear in her DVDs (as dark as an idol video can get, anyway), I got the impression that the point of it was not so much the bondage aspect, but the costumes Miri was wearing, specifically the “sub” uniform with the see-through lace and the tape over her nipples. In comparison, I’ve found a lot material in Matsugane Yōko’s releases to be a lot more of a “downer” than this – 2007′s Chichi Gurui comes to mind immediately.
As you said – I like what I like this is definitely among the better releases of 2008. I’ll be picking up her newest, DVD, on the 29th of the month. Miri’s DVD track record is very hit-or-miss (for every Shake! Shake!, there’s a Sotsugyō, so I’m hoping she’s an a streak and Cara is just as good as In Secret was.
Jan 09, 2009 @ 10:22:18
Z!
Thanks for commenting – your responses to my reviews are always appreciated, and of course, most welcome.
Yeah, we do seem to disagree at times – usually when a DVD is ‘edgy’ or darker. This one I disliked not so much over content but style. I found those repetitive camera movements to be distracting. And the lighting was not flattering to Miri.
As for over-analysing Miri’s motives – I did say that this was possible (over-analysis). I also said that maybe she was just goofing on this. But even if EVERY gravure idol DVD gets has a scene with the model tied up in at least one scene, I still won’t like it.
Just as I don’t like the hand-held ice-cream on a stick theme either.
Please return to the site again soon – as I am in progress with both Hitimi Kitamura and Yoko Matsugane reviews. Also working on the double release by Nonami Takizawa. I Know all three of these ladies are amongst your favorites idols.
Thanks for providing your counter arguments supporting this DVD by Miri. Most people have a high amount of respect for your opinions as do I. I’ll be looking forward to Miri’s Cara release too.
jmm
Jan 09, 2009 @ 20:15:18
what can I say?
I think Miri is one of the most beautiful “BigBreast” gravure idols ever (my favorite one is Miyabi Isshiki ^^) but after reading your review, it gives me the impression that her time has passed, maybe I’m wrong or something like that but it’s like Ourei would come back after a long time break, trying to reach a place where she was before but now it seems different.
Zatoichi has his point of view too, a little more positive, but despite yours opinions I think is better to have Miri around than not having her, she got the lovely face, the curves, the body, what else can we ask?… maybe a good director for her dvd’s? who knows.
Oh! Mike, a future double review for the last two releases from Nonamin? I’ll be waiting for that^^.
I’m also happy for the new dvd from Hitomi Aizawa that is gonna be release in next march, a happy start for this 2009.
Greetings.
Jan 09, 2009 @ 20:56:11
Hola Pedro -
For sure, Miri STILL IS one of my favorite idols too. I just didn’t think much of this DVD – the IV models – even the best of them – can turn out a bad DVD.
They’re still beautiful and can still be adored by their fans.
Zatoichi and I disagree on Videos quite often. We have different tastes and clearly our personal experiences are different. But we seem to like the same models. There have been videos that I love and he hates. We were at opposites ends of the opinion on a few Yoko Matsugane videos.
I don’t require that my readers agree with me. Disagree all you want. It is in the nature of all things that people will see them differently.
Nonami in Japan and Hawaii are in progress. Yoko Matsugane too. Even Sparkling Hitomi is in the works. I guarantee that not everone will agree with my reviews.
Thanks for the comments.
jmm