Dinner & A Show: Naruto Japanese Restaurant & "Public Enemies"

Dinner…

Naruto Japanese Restaurant

43490 Yukon Dr. #101

Ashburn, VA 20147

www.narutosushi.com

Given my “meat and potatoes” attitude towards food, I’m not generally a huge sushi fan. For me, part of the novelty of going to a restaurant is that someone else cooks for you. Then again, sometimes the best experiences come from stepping outside your comfort zone. I must admit to really enjoying the sushi at Naruto.

Hidden away in the first floor of one of the office buildings overlooking the Greenway in Ashburn, one does feel a bit like an explorer—the first to find what is actually a well-recommended Japanese restaurant. It’s certainly a friendly place with a warm atmosphere and an interesting design—be sure to check out the blinds, with subtle pictures on them.

Not having a wide experience with sushi (seafood in rice balls) or sashimi (thin slices of seafood), I recommend taking along a friend to explain what the different options are. At my insistence, we began with the sashimi and I admit be being quite taken with all three of the fish slices that were delivered to our table. My favorite was certainly the tuna—and any restaurant that can get me to happily eat tuna certainly has something going for it.

I settled on the Beef Teriyaki Combination Box that includes a mini-salad, dumplings and several pieces of sushi and teriyaki beef. It’s an interesting combination and one that left me wanting more.

And A Show…

Public Enemies (R)

Summary: Relating the story of legendary criminal John Dillinger, Johnny Depp robs banks in the Great Depression, staying 1 step ahead of the federal agents in pursuit (lead by Christian Bale.)

Review:

There have been some great movies about true-life criminals, most notably “Bonnie and Clyde” from the same time period. For better or worse, there are few real criminal masterminds and even fewer that really fit the Robin Hood mold.

John Dillinger was legendary at the time, largely because his exploits were recorded in the popular crime magazines at the time. He was also one of the first bandits targeted by the federal government. Unfortunately, he was not necessarily a compelling figure or one known for being particularly charismatic.

Part of the problem with “Public Enemies” is the subject matter and the lack of a truly compelling storyline. There is not really a master criminal plan and not enough time is spent on the master plan of law enforcement. For every scene that excites the audience, there is another that falls flat. Some lives just don’t make great movies without a lot of artistic license. As expected, formidable actors Depp and Bale performed well. This is especially true in those scattered scenes truly designed for them—scenes that concentrate on dialogue and one-liners. However, both are limited by the material—as much as if they were wearing manacles themselves.

The real star of the production is the set design and costuming—lavish and interesting. It could be a sign that the movie was lagging, but in several instances I was taken with thoughts of “That’s an interesting wall sconce,” “Does anyone make woolen trousers, anymore?” and “I miss banks with marble floors.” For those with an interest in the time period, the settings are a treat.

Rating (1-5): 3

John Geddie should have taken up a life of crime.

Next Week: “I Love You, Beth Cooper”