If you noticed, the ones who enjoyed this movie are people who saw this during a film festival. This is not a film that you can enjoy watching at home, especially with a group of friends, UNLESS you have nothing else to do (or have some kind of fetish for Japanese school girls - that alone, is the reason, I'm sure, the majority find it interesting to watch) There's a few small sub-plots involving some of the band members having a crush with another character, but that really doesn't go anywhere. The only interesting character was the Korean exchange student (Son played by Du-na Bae). Aki Maeda (also famous in Battle Royale) is by far the cutest of the entire group, but her character is just two-dimensional, as well as others.The ending was by far the most unsatisfying, as the band just plays "Blue Hearts - Linda Linda" song for the school -- and that was a given from the start of the movie. Basically, it's just another day-in-the-life-of movie.Sure there were a few memorable scenes, but overall, the movie is just really tedious to watch. Be warned. If you have other plans, yet you really want to watch this movie, let this movie be your last priority. Viewing it once is enough.If you couldn't stand Lost In Translation, then this movie definitely isn't for you either. This movie is just half an hour too long. Someone could walk into this movie an hour late and they really wouldn't miss a thing.

A group of Japanese high school girls are preparing to perform at the School Rock Festival. Three days before the fest, the guitarist injures her hand, leading to an argument between the keyboardist and vocalist. Their search for a lead singer leads them to a shy Korean exchange student (Du-na Bae) who barely speaks the language and can't really carry a tune. Will they be ready in time for the fest? This was released on DVD in the US a few weeks ago and I have watched it 3 times since, yet I can't seem to get enough of it. I think it's one of the best films this decade. It's probably the best movie I've ever seen about teenage girls, and one of the best movies I've ever seen about rock'n'roll. I've read complaints that it's slow and nothing happens in the film, and I can understand that. The movie has a very subtle feminist and punk-rock aesthetic that I don't think every viewer picks up on. It doesn't pander to its audience, nor does it beat you over the head with its messages. And the music is awesome. Du-Na Bae ("The Host," "Ring Virus") has quickly become my favorite Korean actress. She's brilliant and hilarious in this. The other actresses (including two young women from "Battle Royale" and a real-life j-rock star) are also excellent. "Linda Linda Linda" is rock 'n roll in the purist sense. Genius.

The closing film of this year's Japanese Film Festival, I was half expecting it to end with a rousing and wild finale, given its similarities to last year's commercial release Swing Girls, which also set its story with characters involved in putting up a musical performance. However, it didn't quite live up to expectation, but nonetheless the journey was still pleasing to the eyes (ahem).Unlike Swing Girls where the characters had no idea how to play with the jazz band instruments, the group in Linda Linda Linda have been jamming in their own rock band, so they have some prior experience. Save for their lead singer, who was hastily recruited, and turned out to be a Korean (you'd recognize her from The Host), from the school's Korea- Japan foreign student exchange programme.So begins the frantic pace of finalizing the composition of the group - lead vocalist Son (Bae Du-Na), drummer Kyoko (Aki Maeda), guitarist Kei (Yu Kashii, last seen in Death Note), and bassist Nozomi (Shiori Sekine), and the independent as well as combined practice and training sessions. The songs were as catchy as the lyrics were inane (well, if the English subtitles were to be trusted), taken from Japanese pink rock band The Blue Hearts. Naturally you'll need the element of adversity, and it comes in the form of a lack of venues to practice before their big day performance during the school's rock festival.As per formula, you'll always have the misfits put together and then bonding just in time for their show. It's no different for Linda Linda Linda, as ultimately it's still a feel good movie. It follows the same technique in teasing the audience on the group's performing ability as they improve day by day, in not showing you their performing of the songs in full, and builds up anticipation for that bring-the-house-down finale. However, it lacked certain deftness in resolving the multiple minor subplots (like romance) it opened, preferring to leave them unresolved or open ended. And when the final performance did come on, it's too little too late, with its lack of oomph in delivery, cutting short on the promised 3 song medley. It's a pity though, as the journey to the destination really hinted on a big-bang adrenaline filled ending.

Story told in a documentary-style, about 4 girls at a Japanese high-school campus who start a rock band. The goal is to perform at a festival of their school.The movie starts out quite flat, with a distant and static camera. While the story progresses, the movie becomes more intimate as we learn a little bit more about the characters. We see the coming together of the band, rehearsing and interaction of band members with teachers, boyfriends and family.There are not so many laughs. Script and acting are pretty straight. Highlight is the actress who plays the Korean exchange student and lead singer Son. She delivers a few very welcome comedic moments.This almost two hour long movie really takes its time to get to its point. The finale delivers, though. There is even some suspense towards the end. 7/10