Japanese Movies/Discussion/Recommendations

After watching a string of disappointing Japanese films, I finally viewed one I liked: Shaberedomo Shaberedomo. Taking place in the world of rakugo, it focuses on a second-rate rakugo storyteller whose performances are rather tepid, which leads his master to constantly tell him to quit.

Through a series of circumstances, the protagonist finds himself teaching rakugo to a disparate trio of characters: a dour young woman with relationship issues; a smart-alecky kid who doesn't fit in with his classmates because of his Osaka ben; and a former pro baseball player who sucks as a color commentator. The two adult students have no interest in rakugo at all--they just want to improve their speaking skills--while the kid hopes to be accepted by his classmates by telling funny stories.

While trying to teach his not-always-willing students, the protagonist is also struggling to learn a story made famous by his master in order to perform it at his master's annual appreciation show.

The movie is very much character-driven, and the cast is solid. Taichi Kokuban plays the protagonist, and while presenting his character as being appropriately mundane in appearance, personality, and talent, he also shows how passionate he is about rakugo. Shiro Ito is immensely entertaining as the master, and Yuuki Morinaga does a fine job playing the kid.

This is a good film--not quite as good as say, Swing Girls or Hula Girl imo--but still very satisfying to watch. Like rakugo, I suspect it will appeal more to older rather than younger audiences which is probably one reason why I liked it.

Funny you should mention rakugo: there's a movie (Nezu no Ban) I found on Yesasia which looks interesting, partly because it stars Kimura Yoshino and Yonekura Ryoko, among others:

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Makino Masahiko's new film, Nezu no Ban (a.k.a. A Hardest Night), is a touching and often hilarious celebration of the ancient art of Japanese rakugo, roughly translated as "comic storytelling". The film is interspersed with numerous funerals and wakes, songs, dances, and often disgustingly crude jokes.

The Rakugoka - or raconteurs - have gathered to see that their master, played by Nagato Hiroyuki, is given an appropriately bawdy send off into the next World. Soon their somber memorial turns into a verbal sparring contest, as the well wishers begin telling their stories - beginning with the one about the old man's final request. Suffice to say what he requests to see one last time while lying on his deathbed involves some rather unladylike behavior from disciple Kyota's (Nakaii Kiichi) normally glamorous wife (Kimura Yoshino).

Makino's film is a hilarious, raucous farce championing what is fast-becoming a dying art form in Japan. The cast of venerable acting veterans do a splendid job, delighting in this exploration of debauchery and depravity that somehow manages to compose itself in the best possible taste.
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Have you seen this film? And is it any good?

If anyone is interested, English subs for Mushishi are now available...

http://www.kloofy.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=3371&start=70

What about the movie itself? :victory:

bmwracer wrote:What about the movie itself? :victory:

http://www.mininova.org/tor/749699

runpup wrote:http://www.mininova.org/tor/749699

Excellent. :victory:

Downloading now.... Thanks!

bmwracer wrote:

Have you seen this film? And is it any good?

Here is what I wrote about Nezu no Ban on this thread about a year ago:

Nezu no Ban (A Night without Sleep). This 2006 film takes place in the world of Rakugo. The story is structured around three funerals where family, disciples, and friends reminisce in flashbacks about events which illustrate the character of the deceased. This is a bawdy, scatalogically overwhelming movie. There are dirty jokes, dirty songs, dirty stories, and dirty events all thoughout the movie. The language, if the subtitles are accurate, is very ripe, to say the least. At times it can get to be too much, too forced, but there are enough funny and entertaining scenes that overall I thought it was a pretty good movie. Dorama fans will recognize Kiichi Nakai and Yoshino Kimura among the cast and the film is directed by Masahiko Makino (more familiarly known as Masahiko Tsugawa, a great actor who's appeared in over 100 films and scores of dorama). One thing for sure--if you view this film, you'll never look at a manta ray in the same way again.

Btw, Beemer, Yoshino Kimura has only a minor role in this film (although her character is asked to do a favor which is quite memorable) and off the top of my head, I can't remember what role Ryoko Yonekura had, but like Kimura's, it certainly wasn't a major one. The principal characters in the film are the rakugo master and his disciples.

I can send you a copy if you like.

shin2 wrote:Here is what I wrote about Nezu no Ban on this thread about a year ago

:doh: I had no idea you had posted about this movie already. :ashamed:

I can send you a copy if you like.

That would be great... Thanks. :)

Okay, done downloading Mushishi... Anyone seen it? Comments?

While baking yesterday, I made my friend watch Heavenly Forest. We didn't finish it, but from what I could tell she really enjoyed it and is borrowing it so she can watch the ending. I think the cuteness factor of the movie combined with New York and photography had a lot to do with her liking it. I plan on converting all my friends to Jmovies with this particular one. :twisted:

cori wrote:While baking yesterday, I made my friend watch Heavenly Forest. We didn't finish it, but from what I could tell she really enjoyed it and is borrowing it so she can watch the ending. I think the cuteness factor of the movie combined with New York and photography had a lot to do with her liking it. I plan on converting all my friends to Jmovies with this particular one. :twisted:

It's sort of a chick movie, but it's a good one. :victory:

Geezer wrote:For those who get the TMC cable chanel, you might be interested in a movie that's showing under the banner of the "Masters of Horror".

"Dream Cruise"

In Northern California they will be showing "Dream Cruise" this Saturday, Dec. 15.

It's interesting because it's actually a Japanese horror flick made for American audiences. Japanese script, director, production staff. All filmed in Japan. And for the most part, all done in English. The "American" male star is... some guy from New Zealand.

It stars Kimura Yoshino and she finally gets a chance to show off her command of English.

Hmm this seems intresting..... I would love to see Kimura Yoshino with her english

New Criterion/Eclipse release in January 2008: Postwar Kurosawa:

http://news.criterion.com/c.asp?oNEnyFPhhlXDw5OP0zB1TwBOmYbacBDo8ZGskJ4NJgwQ

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cori wrote:While baking yesterday, I made my friend watch Heavenly Forest. We didn't finish it, but from what I could tell she really enjoyed it and is borrowing it so she can watch the ending. I think the cuteness factor of the movie combined with New York and photography had a lot to do with her liking it. I plan on converting all my friends to Jmovies with this particular one. :twisted:

:beaten: cori's starting the cult...

yeah that movie was cute

monta wrote:yeah that movie was cute

I thought it was more than cute. :sweat:

DVD Savant review of Shinobi no Mono: http://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s2467mono.html

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Geezer wrote:The Seven Samurai -- 2007

With Takizawa Hideaki as Shimada Kambei

And Matsumoto Jun as Kikuchiyo.

It'll make box office history.

that would be seriously stupid for the movie with they two inside. it would be for fangirls then

cori wrote:While baking yesterday, I made my friend watch Heavenly Forest. We didn't finish it, but from what I could tell she really enjoyed it and is borrowing it so she can watch the ending. I think the cuteness factor of the movie combined with New York and photography had a lot to do with her liking it. I plan on converting all my friends to Jmovies with this particular one. :twisted:

Agreed! Heavenly forest is a chick movie but the story was good

Uh, if it's just one show, then it's a movie, if more than one, it's a drama.

Not always the case, but probably 99% of the time.

I downloaded a Abe Hiroshi movie called Ubume No Natsu... but I can't find any subs for it :( Anyone seen this one?