Why are Japanese films so terrible?

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I didn't like it

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 04:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Ugh, I just saw "Ichi the Killer" and it was terrible.

― phil-two (phil-two), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 05:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I enjoy much Japanese cinema. Takeshi Kitano is one of my faves; search "Kids Return", "Sonatine", and "Kikujiro" for sure, also "Metropolis", "Grave of the Fireflies", and "Spirited Away" for anime. "The Eel" was good, I also liked "Shall we Dance?". I'm far from the toughest critic though; I don't require that films be the pinnacle of their respective genres for me to admit to liking them. I consider the above to be entertaining and interesting, with fairly unique storylines, and a refreshing change from the usual mainstream American garbage I'm exposed to here in the States.

― webcrack (music=crack), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 16:51 (twenty-two years ago)

There are plenty of other threads in this series to collect.

― Pete (Pete), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 17:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Phil, where did you see Ichi at?

― dean gulberry (deangulberry), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 17:29 (twenty-two years ago)

they had the DVD of Ichi at Kim's Video here in New York... Don't bother though. It was really really bad. The story was stupid/confusing and the gore was pretty silly.

― phil-two (phil-two), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 19:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I've got the DVD of Ichi, one of the very few freebies I got last year. Nasty.

Note for people who haven't seen Afterlife, the Ritzy is showing as its world cinema matinee all week from Friday. 1-ish I think, £3 a pop. I am ver ver tempted to go see again.

― Pete (Pete), Wednesday, 7 January 2004 10:47 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree that Ichi was quite bad, the plot was muddled and the sick humour wasn't as funny as in other films of Miike, for example Visitor Q.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Wednesday, 7 January 2004 11:18 (twenty-two years ago)

kazuki tomokawa is in the new miike movie (with beat takeshi). i probably still won't see it.

"bright future" was pretty good.

― amateur!st (amateurist), Wednesday, 7 January 2004 13:49 (twenty-two years ago)

two weeks pass...

My downstairs neighbor, who is big on such types of films, showed me Ichi The Killer last night. I couldn't really concentrate on it but at the very least I thought it's sadomasochistc take on the whole Batman vs. Joker concept was intriguing. I might not have noticed it unless he pointed it out (the bad guy's grin, his purple and green clothes, etc.). Did anyone else catch that element?

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 24 January 2004 01:10 (twenty-two years ago)

I couldn't really concentrate on it

because we were yammering about stuff and it was really, really gross.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 24 January 2004 01:11 (twenty-two years ago)

He also showed me Battle Royale, which I hadn't seen yet. I found that more horrifying than Ichi in its own way, and definitely superior.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 24 January 2004 01:16 (twenty-two years ago)

As pete mentioned on another thread Ozu's tokyo story is being shown daily at the NFT till next thursday. I caught it yesterday and it was some of the most moving cinema I've ever seen.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Saturday, 24 January 2004 10:24 (twenty-two years ago)

:-D

― cozen (Cozen), Saturday, 24 January 2004 13:04 (twenty-two years ago)

i saw Ktano's Zaitochi yesterday as opening film to the Rotterdam Film Festival. Samurai turns to Riverdance.

― Eriik, Saturday, 24 January 2004 13:53 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah but just for the last three minutes which felt like a cheat to me

although i guess the dancing is foreshadowed a few times

that film left me pretty cold overall

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 26 January 2004 11:21 (twenty-two years ago)

five months pass...

bump

anyone for Hiroshi Teshigahara?

http://www.bfi.org.uk/showing/nft/teshigahara/calendar/index.php

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 18 July 2004 18:29 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm going to three of them, Julio - Pitfall on Tuesday, Face Of Another on Thursday, then Rikyu on the Wednesday or Friday of the following week. An old friend is coming to the first two with me (no one you know) but you're obviously more than welcome to come along too - and I'm currently on my own for Rikyu, so if you fancy either showing of that say the word.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 18 July 2004 20:05 (twenty-one years ago)

cool, I'm seeing 'woman of the dunes' tomorrow. won't be there on tue, will try and make it to thurs.

Will def see 'rikyu' the following week.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 18 July 2004 21:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Anyone seen Suicide Club?

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Sunday, 18 July 2004 21:20 (twenty-one years ago)

I love Japanese cinema. Audition, Gate of Flesh, Spirited Away and the rest of the anime films, Naked Blood, Stacy etc... Sure some of it is tacky, but it's good fun. Trying to say that Japanese cinema is all about giant monsters attacking cities is like trying to say American movies are all about cowboys and indians.

― dog latin (dog latin), Sunday, 18 July 2004 21:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Contemporary Japanese cinema has it's own clichés, and once you get used to them they can be as irritating as their Hollywood counterparts. This applies especially to anime, which is fun for awhile, but gets really boring once you've seen enough of it. There are gems there, like Miyazaki's flicks, but a lot of the stuff that's imported to the West is mediocre shite aimed at the fanboy market.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Sunday, 18 July 2004 21:44 (twenty-one years ago)

We rented "Suicide Club" last week - really good, albeit disturbing. Much graphic violence, much mystery, much schoolgirls leaping to their deaths on the subway track. What more can you want?

― Layna Andersen (Layna Andersen), Sunday, 18 July 2004 23:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Has anyone seen the three most recent Seijun Suzuki films released on DVD (Underworld Beauty, Kanto Wanderer, Tattooed Life)? The first is a yakuza noir and the latter two are period yakuza films in color, I believe.

I found UB at Borders this weekend, but haven't had a chance to watch it.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Sunday, 18 July 2004 23:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Julio (and any other interested parties): I saw Pitfall tonight, and it was GREAT! I'm really looking forward to the next two now.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 20 July 2004 21:24 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, saw 'woman...' and almost certain to see it again, I did a thread on ilm abt toru takemitsu just after seeing it.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 20 July 2004 21:44 (twenty-one years ago)

So is anyone on for Rikyu on Wednesday (8.20) or Friday (8.40) night? I'm definitely going.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 26 July 2004 18:07 (twenty-one years ago)

DVDs of the two Ju-on TV movies (predating the Ju-on:Grudge two theatrical versions) arrived this morning, hopefully I'll get the chance to watch at least one tonight. Are they really better than the 'remakes', as I've read?

Suicide Circle/Club is genius, yes - but is it any better than Uzumaki? I think not, although for non-horror material Wild Zero is about as good as it gets.

Someone on this thread might know... I've managed to pick up a fantran of the second Ringu TV series (Saishuushou/'The Final Chapter') - has anyone ever seen a subbed version of either the first (Ring: Kanzenban, admittedly only a one-off rather than a series) or third series (Rasen: The Series)?

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Tuesday, 27 July 2004 07:45 (twenty-one years ago)

the new sarah michelle gellar movie (remake of ju-on) is directed by takashi shimizu!!

― amateur!st (amateurist), Tuesday, 27 July 2004 14:36 (twenty-one years ago)

I should be going on friday martin.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 27 July 2004 14:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Great! I'll go on Friday too!

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 27 July 2004 15:52 (twenty-one years ago)

cool, see you there.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 27 July 2004 15:57 (twenty-one years ago)

three months pass...

revive!

director mentioned upthread:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7943-1342630,00.html

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 4 November 2004 21:22 (twenty-one years ago)

I am about to watch Kiyoshi Kurosawa's "Cure". What should I expect?

― adam... (nordicskilla), Thursday, 4 November 2004 21:27 (twenty-one years ago)

it is um... extreme

― A Nairn (moretap), Thursday, 4 November 2004 21:29 (twenty-one years ago)

I do not know if I will enjoy it, then. Is it like Takashi Miike? The jacket promises noir. I want noir.

― adam... (nordicskilla), Thursday, 4 November 2004 21:31 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, it's kind of Noir. The most famous movie it's like is Seven, but more noir than that.

― A Nairn (moretap), Thursday, 4 November 2004 21:32 (twenty-one years ago)

anybody see "Thirteen Consecutive Slaughter" ?
The entire plot consists of this guy killing 13 women one after the other while free-jazz sax wails in the background. It was ok.

― Loose Translation: Sexy Dancer (sexyDancer), Thursday, 4 November 2004 22:30 (twenty-one years ago)

i have Visitor Q because someone loaned it to me and I never got around to watching it. Is it good? Will it unnerve me?

― kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 4 November 2004 22:35 (twenty-one years ago)

No, haven't seen that one!

xpost

― adam... (nordicskilla), Thursday, 4 November 2004 22:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Visitor Q is great if you're in the right mood. It's attempts to disturb you are pretty hilarious.

― Dan Quisenberry (deangulberry), Thursday, 4 November 2004 22:38 (twenty-one years ago)

You just like it because it's Japanese.

― adam... (nordicskilla), Thursday, 4 November 2004 22:39 (twenty-one years ago)

it's good. if you can make it past the opening scene (which is disturbing, the sense of humor becomes more apparent.

it's just a nice story about the modern japanese every-family.

― (Jon L), Thursday, 4 November 2004 22:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Visitor Q is a very odd movie, really unpleasant to watch in places, but also hugely entertaining.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 4 November 2004 22:55 (twenty-one years ago)

I am about to watch Kiyoshi Kurosawa's "Cure". What should I expect?

the best movie ever!! well second best. but certianly the scariest. hook up your player to your stereo if you can because the soundtrakc is crazy like eraserhead.

― :| (....), Thursday, 4 November 2004 23:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I watched akira kurosawa's 'throne of blood' today, strangely apposite that he should change the ending of macbeth so that the army do not advance on the fort and kill the macbeth character but (haha naively hopeful? idealistic?! sigh) he has the mad crazy tyrant's own troops revolt and gun him down in a hail of arrows, eventually (haha holy figurative guacamole batman!) being speared through the throat (or voice-box) literally 'silenced'. would that republicans watched kurosawa.

― cºzen (Cozen), Thursday, 4 November 2004 23:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I thought the film ok by the way and I'm not normally trapped into such ropey reductive mathematical nuts bolts brass tacks addition and subtraction analysis of films but I thought it kinda apt just this once to say. you know, it stuck in my craw.

― cºzen (Cozen), Thursday, 4 November 2004 23:44 (twenty-one years ago)

you've changed.

― adam... (nordicskilla), Thursday, 4 November 2004 23:45 (twenty-one years ago)

I can change back.

― cºzen (Cozen), Thursday, 4 November 2004 23:46 (twenty-one years ago)

damn we should have watched that on halloween rather than the comparatively unfrightening albeit good The Dead Zone

― kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 4 November 2004 23:48 (twenty-one years ago)

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