Watched this because I really liked "Heaven's Story" by the same director. I still liked and would recommend that movie over this one, but this is good too. It's well made from every aspect. One of the main characters may challenge you to wonder if you should like him or be terrified all the way to the end, and I would say that that is one of the most interesting aspects of the film. I can't think of another character in a movie that did that to me to the degree that this film did. That said, there is so much darkness that I was feeling pretty down most of the time watching it. I guess that's part of life, (but sometimes really really bad stuff happens right?) and sometimes we can find some resolution where none should be found. That seems to me to be the theme, and I felt a bit better at the end, but I would recommend having something a bit cheerier on hand to pick your mood up after watching this.
Reviews
9 Reviews
Daimyo-Tousan
(2023)
Nice light comedy with likable characters
28 July 2023
I'm a US American in Japan with N2 level Japanese, and I found the dialogue a little difficult to understand, part because there were some feudal era words, but I was able to follow the story alright, and found the expressions and attitudes of the characters in the movie likable and funny enough to enjoy this film. Since I got two tickets from a friend who won them, but didn't feel like getting up to see it at the final week screening at 8:50am, and nobody else wanted the other ticket, I actually went and saw it again the next morning, sitting in the back row, away from other people so I could occasionally look up words on my phone, and I liked it again, understanding more this time. Kind of an awkward review, I know, but maybe if you're thinking about watching this movie, and you're not Japanese, you might have a comparable situation.
Kid Auto Races at Venice
(1914)
It's short, and it's funny. What more does it need to be?
3 January 2022
Creed II
(2018)
Creed 2 (Rocky 8): A Family Movie
14 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Rocky 4 was easily one of the best (the best?) of the series for it's perfect combo of drama, exciting fight scenes, maybe the best training montage (and workout music), and cold war camp, not to mention one of the best messages for peace at the time ("If I can change, and you can change, we all can cheagghhh!!!!").
(Rocky 4 spoiler ahead)
Creed 2 which builds off the drama of Rocky 4 by having Apollo Creed's son go up against the son of Ivan Drago, the cold Frankenstein's Monster-like Russian boxer who killed Apollo Creed in that movie. People expecting the same kind of film as Rocky 4 may come out feeling both unsatisfied on that same level, but also satisfied enough with a movie that is more about families than who wins a big boxing match. I found that the relationship between Drago and his son and what happened to Drago after 4 to be the most interesting thing about the movie, while at the same time I find it hard to imagine their brief but economic scenes taking up any more time than what they did.
(Rocky 4 spoiler ahead)
Creed 2 which builds off the drama of Rocky 4 by having Apollo Creed's son go up against the son of Ivan Drago, the cold Frankenstein's Monster-like Russian boxer who killed Apollo Creed in that movie. People expecting the same kind of film as Rocky 4 may come out feeling both unsatisfied on that same level, but also satisfied enough with a movie that is more about families than who wins a big boxing match. I found that the relationship between Drago and his son and what happened to Drago after 4 to be the most interesting thing about the movie, while at the same time I find it hard to imagine their brief but economic scenes taking up any more time than what they did.
Sakura-tai Chiru
(1988)
Boring at times, but in the end a touching story about the loss of life of artists to the bomb
3 August 2018
At the beginning I was kind of dozing off at what seemed to be a series of talking head interviews about a traveling actor group that died from the A-bomb in Hiroshima. It seemed I was supposed to already know who these people were, and care to watch interviews of old people talking about them. It gets more interesting as reenactments are done in visually interesting black and white of the group's activities, the A-bomb explosion and the horrifying aftermath on the key members of the troupe. The movie alternates between this and the background of the actors, and in the end is a touching documentary about the loss of life to the bomb. Worth a look, but could have maybe been reedited or presented in a way that maybe gives the viewer a little more up front as to why it's worth it to know this story. Perhaps I was just sleepy. Without the English subs I probably wouldn't have made it past the first 25 minutes without giving up, but I'm glad I finished it.
Noh-Gakushi
(2003 Video)
An enjoyable 60-minute documentary, worth your time if you have an interest in Japanese culture
18 October 2017
Nice little documentary about classic noh theater that focuses on a 70-year old noh master and his 42 year old son, who has followed in his father's footsteps. Mixed in with some basic information about the ideas and philosophy of this art form, you also get a little bit of storytelling from the son about his relationship with a strict father.
I have personally seen over 30 noh performances, and although I usually don't care for filming of stage performance, I thought that the film did a good job. There are some long extended shots of Dojoji, one of the most famous and most dynamic noh plays, to give the viewer a good introduction about what noh looks like, even if you cannot come to Japan and see it yourself.
Despite being a TV scale (size-wise; 16mm?) documentary, the framing, editing, and sound were all pretty good, if a bit aged. My biggest complaint would be the English translation (there is also Chinese and French, but I watched with the English subs). According to the credits, these were done by the Japanese director. It sometimes seems to suffer from over simplification, kind of like what the translator did for Bill Murray's character in the movie Lost in Translation. My Japanese isn't perfect, but that was my opinion. To someone who doesn't know anything about Japanese or noh, there might be some confusion.
Overall, an enjoyable 60-minute documentary, worth your time if you have an interest in Japanese culture.
Noh is not an easy thing to understand for even Japanese people, and most people only watch it once, and never again because they complain about being confused and falling asleep due to the slow pace and hypnotic rhythms of the music. If you see it yourself, I would recommend looking up translations of the play online or in your library beforehand. They usually only take about 10 minutes or less to read, and consist mostly of poetry, which may be translated in many different better or worse ways. It may also help, if are a fan of performance art or David Lynch, to think of it as something like that. Noh is very strange, very atmospheric, and often with dark with stories about spirits, ghosts or demons.
I have personally seen over 30 noh performances, and although I usually don't care for filming of stage performance, I thought that the film did a good job. There are some long extended shots of Dojoji, one of the most famous and most dynamic noh plays, to give the viewer a good introduction about what noh looks like, even if you cannot come to Japan and see it yourself.
Despite being a TV scale (size-wise; 16mm?) documentary, the framing, editing, and sound were all pretty good, if a bit aged. My biggest complaint would be the English translation (there is also Chinese and French, but I watched with the English subs). According to the credits, these were done by the Japanese director. It sometimes seems to suffer from over simplification, kind of like what the translator did for Bill Murray's character in the movie Lost in Translation. My Japanese isn't perfect, but that was my opinion. To someone who doesn't know anything about Japanese or noh, there might be some confusion.
Overall, an enjoyable 60-minute documentary, worth your time if you have an interest in Japanese culture.
Noh is not an easy thing to understand for even Japanese people, and most people only watch it once, and never again because they complain about being confused and falling asleep due to the slow pace and hypnotic rhythms of the music. If you see it yourself, I would recommend looking up translations of the play online or in your library beforehand. They usually only take about 10 minutes or less to read, and consist mostly of poetry, which may be translated in many different better or worse ways. It may also help, if are a fan of performance art or David Lynch, to think of it as something like that. Noh is very strange, very atmospheric, and often with dark with stories about spirits, ghosts or demons.
Late Blossom
(2011)
Cranky old people are funny, and sometimes sad too.
22 February 2014
I laughed, I cried, I cried, boo hoo hoo! I laughed. A bit over melodramatic and forced at times, but some of the characters are likable enough. It's a watchable and often funny movie about some old people in South Korea.
The main character is a crotchety old guy who yells at people. Unfortunately I never really got why he becomes so enamored with the older woman, who is the other main character in the story. She mostly just makes sad shy faces, and personally I don't see how that counts for an especially attractive personality.
After watching I sort of don't know if I should feel optimistic or sad about becoming old, but overall an entertaining way to spend some time, as YOU get two hours older.
The main character is a crotchety old guy who yells at people. Unfortunately I never really got why he becomes so enamored with the older woman, who is the other main character in the story. She mostly just makes sad shy faces, and personally I don't see how that counts for an especially attractive personality.
After watching I sort of don't know if I should feel optimistic or sad about becoming old, but overall an entertaining way to spend some time, as YOU get two hours older.
The Downfall of Osen
(1935)
Watch with a hot bowl of oyakodon, and then some rice crackers and a jar of sake (optional side of dried squid bits).
13 May 2011
The story was a bit melodramatic, and kind of fluffy and sticky (yes, at the same time) for a modern audience (maybe 5/10), but some of the visuals and camera stuff are very gorgeous and beautiful (like 10/10). It'd be cool to just edit all those shots together with some nice traditional Japanese music or make some really great enka karaoke videos out of them. Standard Mizoguchi story stuff with the anti- prostitution/ downtrodden woman subject matter, but done much better in his bigger classics. For the right atmosphere, I would recommend you watch this movie with a hot bowl of oyakodon, and then some rice crackers and a jar of sake (optional side of dried squid bits).
My Blueberry Nights
(2007)
Better with the Chinese language audio track
4 June 2009
The first time I watched this I never wanted to see it again. I was taking a class on Wong Kar Wai at my university, and had just finished watching and studying all of his previous films when this came to the theater just in time to watch it with a fresh, well studied view of WKW's films. Turned out to be a less than good way to see it.
I was thus extremely annoyed by how unoriginal the film seemed. I heard that some reviewer had said something about how it was like watching an American Wong Kar Wai cover band playing all of his greatest hits. In a lot of ways that is totally what this is. Almost everything in it has been seen or done before in his previous films. Sure, I know that directors often make movies about the same thing with the similar imagery, but it's good when it also feels fresh and somewhat new.
So how did my opinion get as high as 7 when it sounds like I'd give it a 2? Well, a couple years later I got a Chinese edition of the DVD, and watched it with Chinese audio (Mandarin) and English subs (just like I would for watching all of his other films), and found the film far less annoying, and actually pretty good. The cinematography is pretty great, all of what we're used to even though Christopher Doyle isn't attached to this one. The dialogue and strange (thin) representations of various US locations seem a lot better in Chinese, or through a more Chinesey viewpoint (which is what it is really), and just about everything seems to work a lot better.
Now if you can't stand dubbing, then maybe this way of watching it won't be for you. The voice actors used are pretty decent I feel; not overly exaggerated and cartoon wacky like some Hong Kong flics. Anyway, if you've hated this movie as much as I did at one time, then here is a way to maybe give it another chance.
I was thus extremely annoyed by how unoriginal the film seemed. I heard that some reviewer had said something about how it was like watching an American Wong Kar Wai cover band playing all of his greatest hits. In a lot of ways that is totally what this is. Almost everything in it has been seen or done before in his previous films. Sure, I know that directors often make movies about the same thing with the similar imagery, but it's good when it also feels fresh and somewhat new.
So how did my opinion get as high as 7 when it sounds like I'd give it a 2? Well, a couple years later I got a Chinese edition of the DVD, and watched it with Chinese audio (Mandarin) and English subs (just like I would for watching all of his other films), and found the film far less annoying, and actually pretty good. The cinematography is pretty great, all of what we're used to even though Christopher Doyle isn't attached to this one. The dialogue and strange (thin) representations of various US locations seem a lot better in Chinese, or through a more Chinesey viewpoint (which is what it is really), and just about everything seems to work a lot better.
Now if you can't stand dubbing, then maybe this way of watching it won't be for you. The voice actors used are pretty decent I feel; not overly exaggerated and cartoon wacky like some Hong Kong flics. Anyway, if you've hated this movie as much as I did at one time, then here is a way to maybe give it another chance.
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