I've looked at many pages in this thread, but I can't find any comedies talked about.
So, can anyone recommend any really funny films?
I know "funny" is subjective, but I'd be interested in others' opinions.
When I say "funny", I mean "made you laugh so hard you cried".
The films of Koki Mitani are witty and intelligently written; they remind me of the best of Neil Simon or Billy Wilder: Uchouten Hotel (his most recent), Welcome Back Mr. McDonald, Everyone's House, University of Laughs (he wrote and directed the first three titles and wrote the screenplay for the fourth).
Juzo Itami's films were popular both in Japan and abroad in the 1980's and 90's; they tend to be satirical in nature and I find them quite funny. Here are the ones I liked the best: Tampopo (as mentioned by bmwracer), A Taxing Woman, A Taxing Woman Returns, The Funeral, Minbo, Supermarket Woman.
Masayuki Suo wrote and directed three films in the 1990's which were critically acclaimed; they are comedies, but also sharp observations of the clash between traditional and modern Japanese culture: Fancy Dance, Sumo Do Sumo Don't, Shall We Dance (the latter two films won the Japanese Academy Award for Best Picture).
Yoji Yamada's Tora-san series (48 movies made from 1969 to 1996) I find hilarious and endearing, but I'm probably the only one on this site who likes them; arguably the most well known series in the history of Japanese cinema (but virtually unknown internationally), these films are formulaic in nature and aimed primarily for middle-aged and older audiences.
Joined: 19 Jun 2006 Posts: 11363 Location: �I�[�X�g�����A Country:
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 7:50 am Post subject:
Keps wrote:
I've looked at many pages in this thread, but I can't find any comedies talked about.
So, can anyone recommend any really funny films?
I know "funny" is subjective, but I'd be interested in others' opinions.
When I say "funny", I mean "made you laugh so hard you cried".
You could also try Tokyo Zombie.
I have downloaded it and burned it to DVD, but not watched it yet (on the list....) From what i've seen sofar it's slapstick comedy, fairly immature style but apparently it's a bit of a cult classic: see http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0451954/
I had intended to watch it while on holidays, but of course that didn't happen
Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Posts: 2034 Location: United Kingdom Country:
Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 2:54 am Post subject:
Thank you Geezer.
Re: The Funeral - reviews I've read on Amazon say that you really need to have lived in Japan to understand the film.
Is that true? (I've never been to Japan).
Re: The Funeral - reviews I've read on Amazon say that you really need to have lived in Japan to understand the film.
Is that true? (I've never been to Japan).
The Funeral, like many of Juzo Itami's other films, satirizes various aspects of Japanese culture. So if you're not familiar with a particular aspect of Japanese culture, it is possible you might miss certain bits of humor. For example, in The Funeral, rituals involved with Japanese funerals are the basis for some of the satire contained in the film. In general however, I think Itami's films translate well to foreign audiences; viewers seem to get the gist of what he is poking fun at, and that's a major reason why his works were popular in the West in the 80's and early 90's. My favorite Itami film, Tampopo, is about the pursuit of the perfect bowl of ramen, but its structure is like an Old West movie, a la Shane or any number of Clint Eastwood or John Wayne westerns.
Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 3125 Location: S.F. Bay Area Country:
Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 3:48 pm Post subject:
keps
Quote:
Re: The Funeral - reviews I've read on Amazon say that you really need to have lived in Japan to understand the film.
Is that true? (I've never been to Japan).
Absolutely not!
I've never been to Japan either. And I had no trouble understanding the movie.
And I should say... I saw "The Funeral" for the first time quite a long time ago. Long before I started watching Japanese TV.
In fact, movies like "The Funeral" "Tampopo" "A Taxing Woman" played a big part in opening the door to Japanese movies and TV for me.
It was so easy for me to relate to the people in these movies simply as people, rather than as folks from a foreign culture, that I was able to start watching dramas for the sheer entertainment of the things. _________________
have you seen A Cheerful Gang Turns the Earth... Keps?
The director is Tetsu Maeda. this movie has some funny parts in it, and just like the title, it often has a very cheerful atmosphere. But it was hard to decide whether the movie was ment to be funny or not so don't hope getting knocked off from your chair due to laughter. And also it became really serious at times.
A nice plot indeed. But i think it's not the type where you'll be feasted with splendid mystery or breathtaking action. It's all in the script. And the robberies were really cool especially b/c of each gang member's characteristics. The timeline is a bit confusing, but interesting and surprising at the same time, it was indeed the main attraction.
Since i don't remember the names, here are the main casts:
and this, one of my fave funny dudes, appeared twice for only less than 5 minutes. he's the nut in Kisarazu Cats Eye if you remember, i love his expressions:
i'm giving it an 8.5/10. very worth watching, not that memorable, no eyecandies i guess, but a good plot and cool ending.
Go for it Keps
oh, and for those who intend to watch, don't stop until the end... after the credits is over, there's the answer for the 'giraffe question' _________________
Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Posts: 2034 Location: United Kingdom Country:
Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 11:04 pm Post subject:
Shin2 and Geezer - interesting. A couple of the people reviewing The Funeral on Amazon seemed convinced it would not be enjoyed by anyone who had no experience of living in Japan. Mind you, there are more reviews which don't say that -
Thanks for your suggestion too, Monta.
A Cheerful Gang Turns The Earth doesn't get too good a write-up on IMDb
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0496905/
But your description of the film definitely gets my interest. And that picture of the hatted guy looks very funny!
(I haven't actually seen Kiserazu Cat's Eye, though)
Thanks for your suggestion too, Monta.
A Cheerful Gang Turns The Earth doesn't get too good a write-up on IMDb
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0496905/
But your description of the film definitely gets my interest. And that picture of the hatted guy looks very funny!
(I haven't actually seen Kiserazu Cat's Eye, though)
Eeehh... i just read the review from the link. only 5.3/10?
well i was okay with it. and i'm not the epic-lover type either. and i love the 'giraffe question'
he was even funnier in Kisarazu Cat's Eye, really funny _________________
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but apparently it's a bit of a cult classic: see 
