Mikie Hara – Umi to, Mikie to, Taiyo to (October 20th, 2009)
Line Communications / I-One
Catalog # – LCDV-40931 – Region 2 Disc – 16:9 Aspect
Running Time: 65 Minutes
The Skinny: This is the first of Mikie Hara‘s recent double release from I-One. Yes, we are again in Bali – no surprise there, as Bali has become even more popular with the Japanese production houses than ever. Let’s have a look at Mikie, in all her splendor.
The first of the main chapters opens with Mikie playing spiritedly on the beach. And there’s some long shadows. Likely when they started it was morning.
There’s a rich blue sky. But the going must have been slow, as quite soon the shadows shortened as the sun was overhead.
After the beach, Mikie is back at the villa. She’s treating herself to first a rub with a body lotion then a nice shower. I’m sure it felt good, because certainly it was nice to watch.
Mikie goes for a walk. She’ll walk down this pathway built between stone walls.
There’s moss, and flora to be seen as well as gorgeous Mikie. An excellent scene in terms of lighting, color, and well, a setting that you won’t see any place else other than Bali.
A short scene follows. Mikie wears a multi-striped bikini and does some light aerobics and stretching. It is another morning scene with long shadows. Nothing special here.
Later, okay – let me re-phrase that; the next scene – finds Mikie in bed wearing some beautiful lingerie. After some bouncing around, she’ll slow down to look as beautiful as ever, but in a far slower pace.
Well it took 27 minutes but Mikie finally shows up at the pool in the next chapter. I should change that as the scene opens with Mikie in the pool.
It’s another short chapter as Mikie has to rush off for even more exercises. This time she’s going to jump rope. We’ll just show you a close-up. You know those action shots (jump-rope) are often blurred, so – no thanks.
Mikie wears a sexy swimsuit in the next chapter. Wow! That is stunning. But she’s stunning no matter what she wears.
Meanwhile back out on the lawns, Mikie jumps rope again. Only this time someone else is working the rope. Mikie is hands-free. She’s enjoying it from the look on her face.
More glamor posing follows. Mikie wears yet another ‘designer’ outfit selected no doubt to show off her curvy body.
The next to last scene of the main chapters is the best in show. This is a classic sunset scene.
There’s nothing more romantic than this. In fact it doesn’t get any better than this. Okay, maybe Yoko Matsugane in one of her sunset scenes.
In the last of the main chapters, Mikie is in her room. It is supposedly a glamor posing session, but in my view, it should have not been the last scene. The last scene, cliched or not, should have been the sunset.
Summary: Since this was the first of the double release, some how this one got the best scenes. I hate to say this but – this one kills the other one. In my view this was a superb video, better light management, better color, and, an infinitely better Mikie – she was more animated, more lively, and the director handled her better. Four point five zero – which is a full point higher than the rating for the 2nd dosc of the double release.
If you have to decide between the two - go for this one – even though the cover image on the other was nicer.