Fave Japanese films

[all_indie]

i've started to get really into japanese films...a guy at work recommended "purple butterfly", "bright future", "last life in the universe", and "dolls"...i checked em out and saw the trailers and stuff @ http://www.palmpictures.com (http://www.palmpictures.com)

they looked pretty cool but i want some more info before i buy them...has anyone seen them? what'd you think? lol..i'm so indecisive...

thanks,
tim

[Doug M]

all_indie

I haven't seen one of the films you mentioned but we have another Japanese film fan here somewhere that may have. BakaSensei has shared thoughts on several films and animes in the Various Japan Topics forum. These reviews can also be found in our Japan Reviewed (http://www.japan-101.com/reviews/) section. If he stops by, he may have some comments on the films you mentioned.

[BakaSensei]

I'm very familiar with "Dolls" and vaguely with "Purple Butterfly." Both seem cut from the same mold: visually stunning, but pointless in plot. "Dolls" especially seems to ramble from thread to thread and never really resolves, although it does finally end abruptly. Takeshi Kitano ("Kikujiro," "Battle Royale," "Zatoichi") is the director, and I usually love his work. "Dolls" is almost art for the sake of art, delivering some nice visuals without concern for story.

If you're just getting into Japanese cinema, there are plenty of other great directions to go in, especially in the horror and samurai genres. If you want to list your interests, I'll be glad to recommend some films.

[Dutchbaka]

I saw "dolls" without sub, even i didnt understand the lanquage, i think it was a nice movie, great shooten. a serieus movie that i also liked was "Nobody knows", about the 4 kids living without there mom in an apartment. and the movie "GO" ( korean guy living in japan, getting japanese girlfriend, not knowing he is korean.. Yosuke is a GREAT actor, and big idol)

"Zeven samura"i is really great, bit long, but it has some great humour in it, and nice action.

"audition", "battle royal 1&2", "suicide club", and Ichi the kiler" are fun movies to watch, if you like this Crazy japanese stuff movies!!

"Casshren", "Waterboys", and "Bayside shakedown" are nice too

[deadhippo]

Wow, dutchbaka , you have a seen quite a few

well, my opinion of Dolls is pretty low and im a Takeshi fan too, but to be honest he lost me a little after kikujiro (which I loved) zatoichi and hanabi were so-so (my opinion of course)
takeshi movies thats I loved - violent cop, sonatine, boiling point, kids return, kikujiro

i though battle royale was ok but i couldnt be bothered watching the sequel, though i might get around to it as i have the dvd somewhere

i still havent seen "go" but i too am a kubozuka fan
i like the movie "laundry" with koyuki

i saw bayshide shakedown 2 and it was as boring as hell but i have heard that if you watched the tv series its better
there are now two more spin-off sequels

im going to watch "nobody knows " this weekend, i think its a true story too
also a newish movie called blood and bone starring takeshi as a korean immigrant is on my to watch list

when i was younger i watched a few movies by one indie/arthouse director - shinya tsukamoto, i highly recommend tokyo fist, if you like cronenberg i think you should check this guy out.