on asian movies
It's rare for me to see a movie that I simply cannot watch all the way through (I fall asleep every time during Electric Dragon 80,000 V), or that I'm actually angry at having seen (Moulin Rouge), but watching the un-cut, un-rated version of Ichi the Killer was definitely an experience. About 15 minutes from the end of the movie, I realized I was actually repulsed and sickened by the whole thing and ready to call myself a prude by labeling it pornography with absolutely no artistic merit. I can't imagine what it would be like to see that movie on the big screen, the title screen alone made me gag a little.
Anyway, I managed to fight the urge to stop the movie, and after the usual "WTF was that?" Japanese movie ending, I went to the IMDB message boards to see if I could figure out, well, WTF that was. While reading all of the different theories about the ending, I started to think maybe it wasn't all just pointless pornographic violence.
The whole thing makes me wonder if I should even bother watching Miike Takashi's other movies. I hear good things about The Happiness of the Katakuris, and of course there is also Audition, but I think I am going to have to wait a while before I try watching another film of his.
Oh, and I saw House of the Flying Daggers, it was way better than Hero. I can't wait until it's on the big screen out here.
I'm looking for a DVD of Not One Less, but the local rental store only has a VHS tape of it.
Who the heck is not eagerly awaiting 2046?
I also hear great things about Taegukgi.
I can't wait until Hollywood remakes all of these movies because America refuses to read subtitles. Post to come on that.
--
Here's a raving review of Ichi the Killer:
Though it's not in the movie, imagine a single take, no cuts, slo-mo, shot of a burning hot needle sliding slowly into a restrained person's eye ball. To me, that is an acurate description to the feelings i got watching Ichi. Having said this, I really enjoyed the movie, and would recomend it. -- IMDB Message Board post
Anyway, I managed to fight the urge to stop the movie, and after the usual "WTF was that?" Japanese movie ending, I went to the IMDB message boards to see if I could figure out, well, WTF that was. While reading all of the different theories about the ending, I started to think maybe it wasn't all just pointless pornographic violence.
The whole thing makes me wonder if I should even bother watching Miike Takashi's other movies. I hear good things about The Happiness of the Katakuris, and of course there is also Audition, but I think I am going to have to wait a while before I try watching another film of his.
Oh, and I saw House of the Flying Daggers, it was way better than Hero. I can't wait until it's on the big screen out here.
I'm looking for a DVD of Not One Less, but the local rental store only has a VHS tape of it.
Who the heck is not eagerly awaiting 2046?
I also hear great things about Taegukgi.
I can't wait until Hollywood remakes all of these movies because America refuses to read subtitles. Post to come on that.
--
Here's a raving review of Ichi the Killer:
Though it's not in the movie, imagine a single take, no cuts, slo-mo, shot of a burning hot needle sliding slowly into a restrained person's eye ball. To me, that is an acurate description to the feelings i got watching Ichi. Having said this, I really enjoyed the movie, and would recomend it. -- IMDB Message Board post