A few nights ago I watched another terrific Yoji Yamada film--Haruka Naru Yama no Yobigoe (A Distant Cry from Spring). This 1980 film starred movie icon Ken Takakura and Yamada's favorite lead actress Chieko Baisho. A simple story, it takes place in rural Hokkaido where a widow and her young son, struggling to make a go of their dairy farm, are visited by a stranger with a mysterious past who becomes their hired hand, a father figure to the boy, and a trustworthy companion to the lonely mother. It is a typical Yamada movie: very much character-driven, alternately sad and hilarious, and comfortingly sentimental. You know, it's a shame Yamada isn't more well known in the West; he certainly receives scant attention on this site. But he's a prolific director/screenwriter who has done a mindboggling number of movies and, in his late 70's, is still creating high quality films. I mentioned this on a previous post, but I think it bears repeating: as a filmmaker, his works have collectively won more Japan Academy awards and earned more money in Japan than the works of any other filmmaker in the history of Japanese cinema.
actually, i've just finished it. Yes, Sawajiri Erika isn't good. But Natsuki Mari rocks when it comes to acting!!!!! especially these kind of roles ( wicked grandma etc.)
it's got snailish pace. i managed to finish it since the story was about the people around my age _________________
Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 638 Location: Bay Area, home of "hyphy" Country:
Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 5:09 am Post subject:
slashersam016 wrote:
has anyone seen this movie yet?
im downloading this one.
looks interesting.
Like a lot of Sion Sono's movies, this one is ****ed up. There are good messed up movies and there are bad messed up movies, and I'd group this one with the latter. I hope I'm not too late.
Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 3125 Location: S.F. Bay Area Country:
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 4:04 am Post subject:
Sorry it's a little late, but as to "Strange Circus" I'll go along with DougFunnieee's comment above.
I saw the movie about a week ago, and even the fast forward button didn't help it.
Boring, pointless, something of a waste of time.
On to the good stuff!
For those of you who loved the old school Samurai Franchise movies. You know, the Zatoichi films, the Body Guard movies, Wolf and cub, Hanzo the razor, etc.
I saw Koji Yakusho's "Dora Heita" (2000) the other day, and it was a pure joy.
It seems like an old fashioned movie, but that makes sense. The thing was originally written by Kurasawa and a couple of his directing buddies years ago, and Ichikawa finally got around to turning it into a film a few years ago.
Dora (a nick name that's defined in the film as an alley cat, or a good time Charlie) is the second son of a clan big wig, and he's been sent to clean up a corrupt fief.
He, of course, does it in his own very odd ball style.
As I said... it's an old fashioned samurai film. But it's done very very well. And Koji (as you might assume) creates a fun and memorable character.
For those of you who loved the old school Samurai Franchise movies. You know, the Zatoichi films, the Body Guard movies, Wolf and cub, Hanzo the razor, etc.
I saw Koji Yakusho's "Dora Heita" (2000) the other day, and it was a pure joy.
It seems like an old fashioned movie, but that makes sense. The thing was originally written by Kurasawa and a couple of his directing buddies years ago, and Ichikawa finally got around to turning it into a film a few years ago.
Dora (a nick name that's defined in the film as an alley cat, or a good time Charlie) is the second son of a clan big wig, and he's been sent to clean up a corrupt fief.
He, of course, does it in his own very odd ball style.
As I said... it's an old fashioned samurai film. But it's done very very well. And Koji (as you might assume) creates a fun and memorable character.
I enjoyed every minute of it.
I agree with your opinion of this movie. It's somewhat of a rarity for a samurai film in that it's a fullout comedy --helluva writing staff (Kurosawa, Ichikawa, Kinoshita, Kobayashi) and a solid cast. Koji Yakusho might just be Japan's best actor over the last decade: he's excellent in different genres and so versatile in playing different roles. Plus he's been in a lot of really good films.
Joined: 12 May 2006 Posts: 4058 Location: I'm still all about Ai Otsuka Country:
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:28 am Post subject:
agree in you guys. after downloading it almost a week. and watched it. its really not worth it. the story is slow and rather pointless. and too much sex in wrong places. whateve you call that one...
the reason im curious about this film is the success of Sono's Suicide Circle. so i thought this Strange Circus is as good as the Suicide Circle... but im wrong.... _________________
Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 638 Location: Bay Area, home of "hyphy" Country:
Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 12:56 pm Post subject:
slashersam016 wrote:
agree in you guys. after downloading it almost a week. and watched it. its really not worth it. the story is slow and rather pointless. and too much sex in wrong places. whateve you call that one...
the reason im curious about this film is the success of Sono's Suicide Circle. so i thought this Strange Circus is as good as the Suicide Circle... but im wrong....
Have you seen Noriko's Dinner Table yet? I haven't seen it personally, but I hear it's a prequel to Suicide Circle. Maybe you could check that one out.
Joined: 26 Aug 2006 Posts: 100 Location: united states Country:
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 1:08 am Post subject:
i went on vacation and flew via japan airlines. they played Love and Honor, the movie kimutaku stars in. anyone watched it yet? i think he did a great job. _________________
it's true one can be overwhelmed, and sometimes even underwhelmed. but can't you just be like, whelmed?!?!?!
Joined: 12 May 2006 Posts: 4058 Location: I'm still all about Ai Otsuka Country:
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 7:06 am Post subject:
DougFunnieee wrote:
Have you seen Noriko's Dinner Table yet? I haven't seen it personally, but I hear it's a prequel to Suicide Circle. Maybe you could check that one out.
yep. downloading it actually right now. _________________
Joined: 05 Jul 2006 Posts: 594 Location: on the edge of tomorrow Country:
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 1:20 pm Post subject:
This is a really old film of Ryuhei Matsuda. I think right after Gohatto which he filmed when he was 15 ot 16 years old.
Its Blue Spring/Aoi Haru. A film about the life and times of high school boys and what they do to become the boss in school. Kinda dark and gory with some really violent scenes. But wickedly brilliant if you like that kind of film. Ryuhei as usual was perfectly cast and so were the other actors. I can't really understand all the bullying that happens in this movies and wonder if it is like that in real life. But it seems the pressure for perfection takes its toll on these students. I watched this the week before the Virginia Tech shooting and I guess it helps explain the mindset of Cho the killer in some ways. _________________
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Register
Log in
