The movie's anti-hero is his own worst enemy!
A corrupt government official blackmails the anti-hero Atsushi Wakizaka (Katsuo Nakamura) into watching over his suitcase full of embezzled cash while the official serves a mandatory 5-year jail sentence.Atsushi had fallen in love with Shoko (Mariko Kaga) his student, and murders the man who raped her, after the rapist returns to blackmail the parents to protect Shoko's "honor/marriage-ability"...with Shoko's parents' permission, he follows the rapist on a train and kills him there.
The two problems that develop are that Atsushi was seen by a corrupt, embezzling government official throwing the rapist's body off the train where he was killed and the government official forces Atsushi to keep a suitcase-full of money that he took from Japan's Agricultural dept, knowing he will only get 5 years in prison when he is caught, and also Shoko is betrothed by her parents and marries another man.
Atsushi goes into daydreaming of Shoko running away with him, seeing her come to his house or apartment, which he shares with his 'bought" women; the time he dreams of her showing up at his house and her declaring that she would rather be dead than return to her rich husband drives Atsushi to throw all caution to the wind, and he decides to spend the millions in cash and let the imprisoned government official kill him once he is released after serving time.
What follows is a descent into debauchery by Atsushi , picking up woman after woman who reminds him of his lost student Shoko, and paying them millions to them allowing him to do whatever he wants with them. The problem is that they are giving their money to others: the Japanese Yakusu, to a husband who allows his wife to be used by Atsushi, or the last one who seeks out other "johns" during the day when Atsushi is not using her...
You had to think about what the director, famed Nagisa Ōshima (the reason I watched this movie in the first place), in a movie he made before IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES.
I have decided that he was trying to convey that:
"Love cannot be bought" and (as others have said), greed was prevalent in post-WW II Japan, and (unfortunately), today as well.
The money and his wild spending of it leads to more and more trouble for Atsushi; and perhaps what is sadder still, is that everyone is willing to sell their souls or body to him...for the money; even Shoko, his true love and who actually does come to him when he is out of money, is willing to give her body to him in order to save her husband's cash-starved cosmetics company.
Without planning or any foresight, Atsushi wanders from one woman to the next, not finding what he really wants. He is after all, his own worst enemy: thinking that money can buy happiness, and he also always opens his mouth at the wrong times, not knowing when to shut up!
He cannot keep his mouth shut about how he came about his money, making everyone a possible snitch to turn him in, and he also tries to offer more and more money to get what he wants from the women he chooses. His mouth also got him into trouble with Mari's pimp. played by the late Akiji Kobayashi, who found out about the money from being in prison with the corrupt government official, not knowing that Atsushi is the man he is looking for!
Atsushi runs his mouth to Maris' pimp about the missing money; had he been able to keep quiet, he would have been safe and free of the worry of the corrupt official's return. He even tells Shoko his secret (during the one time that she actually returned to him), which ultimately gets him arrested for the murder of Shoko's rapist.. She, his long lost crush, is the cause of his arrest at the end.
I found the movie to be quite convincing about the immoral situation in Japan, or any other place in today's society, and am saddened by Atsushi's lack of morality, common sense and naivete!
The cinematography of Pleasures of the Flesh is good, in my opinion; but I had to watch the movie twice to realize the Japanese music, which I was unfamiliar with, was actually used as a segue between scenes. I especially loved the use of black and white and gray to impart the mood of the different parts in this movie!
I would recommend this movie to anyone, especially fans of the late director Nagisa Ōshima, as this movie also questions the social constraints of his native Japan during his life.
RE-WATCH VALUE: Definitely!
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A TIMELESS treat for the whole family!
This is one of the best movies I have watched for a long time...Although I believe that this movie is geared toward 10-20 year olds, it is still a great little; movie; my major problem is that there is no reference on the Internet for any of the cast except a few; and not all movie sites list the ladies, or men, who starred here. With an imagination, this is a great kids movie as well!
However, the person adding this movie only gave you ONE main female lead; there are FIVE females and FIVE males who act this movie
I hate to brag, but I told the group that watched this movie together what the four ladies actually were BEFORE we got to the part where they explained themselves to Su Su (Liu Qian Yu), and I also successfully predicted who she would choose as her boyfriend at the end, both less than halfway through the movie!
The cinematography was excellent, and the support actors did an excellent job, especially the one who was beaten up!
The main actress
What many people don't understand that that EVERY woman is the same as You Menghan, the lead female character here:
Every female is a 'daughter', and if their parents live, they become a daughter when they visit them;
Many women, especially today, is a 'coworker' and can accompany her coworkers, let her hair down and make sure everyone gets home safely;
(Almost) every female is a 'sibling', who becomes a sibling again when interacting with sister(s)/brother(s)
Every female is a 'warrior' - just watch a female have their children threatened, they become Liu Rusi, the warrior in this film;
Every female becomes Chen Zilian, the 'wine bibber in this movie, when fortunate to be in her situation;
Every female, if she chooses, can be a Li Mengying, our 'startling geisha' in this movie, and can entertain people, her family or even her loved one;
and lastly, every woman during her lifetime (especially if she has child(ren), becomes a Susu - giving and wanting to see others with a smile on their faces!
This should be a 'must-see' for anyone who majors in psychology/sociology...
RE-WATCH VALUE: Of course!
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An excellent movie for ALL AGES!
This is one of the sweetest movies I have ever seen!The acceptance of Jeni being pregnant and their combined decision to have and keep the baby is so heartwarming...
The cinematography is great, music is superb, and the cast do an excellent job in their respective acting roles!
Combining the moral decision of keeping the baby with the sweet middle-school antics of two kids falllng in love with other, plus just enough comedy to keep your interest alive (boys running into the goal post while looking back at his girl; girl jealous when she thinks he snuck a kiss with another girl; et al).
Over halfway through, both sets of parents finding out about the 'secret', Jeni and Juno's plans almost fall apart, but with the help of last-minute 'friends' their hopes of having the baby are fulfilled!
Well worth the watch, and an occasional re-watch is also recommended...especially if you like a sweet couple's story and good, clean comedy as well!
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Weird movie which needs to be watched more than once!
This movie was based on the hit song "Kaette kita yopparai" by The Folk Crusaders, a folk and pop music group that also appeared in the film. It was released in March 1968.I had to watch this film two tmes (and it repeats the movie twice in one playing, with a slight "twist" in the second run-through) before I go the point being made..
After I realized what it was trying to say, it became a lot clearer and it made sense then.
My late brother, James Vernon Robinson, was stationed in Japan with the U S Navy as a security/intelligence NCO in the 1960s-early 1970s; he always said that unless you has a hockie mask on, carrying a chain saw dripping with blood, that passing through Japanese customs was simple and quick, if you weren't carrying a Korean passport...but, if you were carrying a Korean passport, you were placed under a bright lamp and interrogated for hours or days as to your past lives, income, et al (hyperbole, but you get the meaning!) before the Japanese allow you, as a Korean, to enter their country!
This film sheds the same paradigm, but in a more humorous way!
This film would probably be more enjoyed by young people, because of the silly song associated with it, although it does have an overall message.
Re-watch, probably not!
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Mismatched couple who mature...too late!
I personally would like to see kids in Junior/Senior High to watch this in class and talk about it...The cinematography and support actors/actresses did a good job filling in the spaces but not taking focus off of the couple in question.
The movie shows two immature teenagers (Zhou Xiao Qi aka Greg Hsu and You Yong Ci
aka Zhang Ruo Nan)), the male reckless and the female insecure, cross-matched and continually losing each other.
Her requesting him not to fight anymore shows she wanted him to be around for her; and not in and out of her life. He was awestruck with puppy love grew a little more mature when he agreed not to fight anymore (but at the time, he didn't know this!)...
A drunken father finding his wife and her his daughter, forced her and her mother on another move, something that the young girl grew tired of, but I thought it was caring of her to tell him to leave while the crowd watched her clean up the broken glass; she knew in her heart that her stability with another move was threatened. I felt that she was thinking of him at this time.
He gained the impetus to go to college, seeing her photograph on pictures of university life; but alas, she is already dating someone else and another separation ensues when he forces the soccer star to reveal his two-timing promise that he made to two separate women!
Again, as a swimming star, they meet again, and an injury forces him to give up his main goal in life....what is funny, nothing would have happened had he swam the race!
Fast forward to two lovebirds finally living together, with a reality check when his injuries prevent his stardom and large endorsements. I personally think had he not been so worried about his athletic injuries and taken a stable low-paying job, the ending would have been totally different. You Yong Ci unfortunately hears his lamenting about meeting her in a conversation with his friend, which brings back all her insecurities and seeing him as her father who was never there for her. Last separation...
The loss of You Yong Ci and the fact that he had to get a stable job to pay the rent taught him many lessons about his past and gave him the the ability to mature...but too late for reuniting with his former over.
The meeting with You Yong Ci on her wedding day shows how much more mature BOTH parties were.
You Yong Ci laughs when he says he is a master thief, and thanks him for coming to her wedding; both appear to be at ease, even though they broke up a few years ago...she is smiling while they talk.
His statements he made to her shows the maturity he gained having a low-paying but steady job as he had to deal with other kids like him in high school:
"You look wonderful in your wedding dress"
"I used to be a fool...worrying over the future...while wasting the present."
"You're more mature" (what he is saying to me, is that HE is more mature)"
"But today, I want no more regrets"
"But when you called me by my name...then in a fleeting moment...then I was back when I was seventeen."
All these statements - to me - show that he will be ready to have another lasting relationship in the future, but not with You Yong Ci ...I believe that the character of You Yong Ci realizes he finally gained the maturity to have a meaningful relationship..., but not with her.
The supporting actors did a fantastic job as well, and I would recommend this movie, especially to youthful couples...what wasn't said in the movie was that the individual must die as any couple matures.
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Perfect Introductory work to Ran Masak or Masahito Segawa....
"Roman Porno from 1985. A young teacher heads off to teach fencing in a school in the countryside."This is a Japanese Cat III movie which contains lots of frontal nudity but it is not vulgar as other Cat III movies are...
The fencing teacher Noriko Saotome (Ran Masak), is invited to teach fencing at a remote mountain school, not realizing that her so-called friend, Saeko Okazaki (Izumi Shima) has a personal reason and ulterior motive in recommending her for the open position...
It turns out from even before the two ladies reach the school, that the male students in the school (young students (and later, the faculty alike) are misogynist. Also, an incident shows that the female students are very tolerant of this mindset.
First, mistreatment by students leads the main female lead into a world of sex, submission and perversion by all men, including the school's principal.
Although many reviewers believe this is not worth watching, I totally disagree. This is a great film featuring nudity but no raunchy sex scenes!
The cinematography is as good as any other regular film for its time, both the inside and outside settings. The music which assists in setting mood and segues in the movie is excellent and the actors/actresses play their roles convincingly and add to the overall atmosphere of this under-rated movie.
From my readings on the Internet, the actress Ran Masak maintained a special working relationship with director Masahito Segawa during their professional career years; I would recommend trying all the movies in which they collaborated.
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Great chemistry, but drawn out too long!
WARNING:Spoilers aheadGreat series, especially the flirting and teasing between Kao Er (Cecilia Liu) and Mo Chi (Geng Mo Chi)...they actually pull off appearing to be an actual couple in love!
On the negative, the series would have been better a little shorter, since around every corner something happened where Kao Er, Moshi or Shu Li (Bao Jian Feng) exaggerated some sort of event to the point Kao Er and Mo Chi were thrown away from each other's arms, and marriage...
The series bounced back and forth from flirting and teasing to drama because of the two lovers never seem to make it to the altar, at least together; the writers did an excellent job on the series abeit they should have cut if down a few episodes (more of the director's fault than theirs, however).
Continuously laughing at some of the scenes (example: Kao Er and Mo Chi both sparring at the 100th day anniversary of their spouses' death at the adjoining graves), I kept saying to myself that the actors/esses had to had fun doing many of the scenes and (at least) one of them probably cracked up laughing as they were trying to keep a straight face acting out the funnier scenes!
I also laughed when Shu Li told Kao Er that he knew of a perfect match for Mo Chi's heart transplant; something told me that HE was the perfect heart donor...I also immediately saw Jin Yi as Shu Li's long-lost sister.
Ying Zhi (Qi Xiang) played the perfect and steadfast friend of Kao Er, while Mi Lan (Yang Yi Tong) played an excellent friend-turned-villianess...I hope China's movie industry gives her a chance to star as a main character/villianess in another, future, movie or series!
[She and Second Sister from General's Lady (2020) both deserve a chance to play a main role as a "bad woman" in the future]
Anyway, quite a good series, with the minor detail of too many "coincidences" keeping them apart for so long!
I likes it also when Shu Li made the comment of when Kao Er told him of Mo Chi being destitute, but apparently still able to rent a fancy boat apartment in an expensive city like Seattle...the humor was not wasted on anyone knowing how expensive it is to live anywhere in Seattle, WA...especially on the waterfront!
Equally funny was Kao Er renting the same waterfront boat apt as Mo Chi did with all the money she had, then expecting to just "go" and get a job so that she could eat...can you imagine her applying for ANY job with her lack of experience in the food business!
The support Zach Ireland Splittgerber, Sun Zhi Hong, et al, deserve praise for their roles also; in particular Kao Er's parents: Ru Ping and Xie Yuan (mother and father, respectively).
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"...Beautiful Sound Like In The Tautness Of A Bow. I Want To Live Like This Until The Day I Die"
Any movie which you watch directed by Kim Di Kuk has to understand his (I don't know whether to call it 'idiosyncratic' or 'eccentric') outlook on making movies. You have to use your vision; watching the faces and actions of his characters, and you also have to watch how the character acts, or doesn't act, as a normal person would in the situation in which the director places that character..Kim Di Kuk uses the full abilities of his actors and actresses when they appear in one of his films. Being a screenwriter for many of his films [or not, he only directed My Mother, (2013)] he gives them very little dialogue to use to portray their characters or their emotions here, or his other films.
It was the third time I watched this movie that I realized that absolutely NO ONE had a name in this movie!
Every time you watch a Kim Di Kuk film, you will notice something 'different' that you missed before!
Also, until you see the film yourself, don't believe what others say about it; one reviewer said that the 'young man' became interested in the young girl first, which is not true. It was the other way around.
An old man, who many called 'Grandfather' (Jeon Sung Hwan) brought a young, 6-year-old girl (played by Han Yeo Reum, 10 years later) to his boat off Korea's coast. 'Grandfather' charges fisherman to come fish off of his sanctuary from society; after a visit or two the fishermen start gossiping about the relationship between 'Grandfather' and his supposedly 'grand-daughter.'
Both the grandfather and young girl have grown fond of each other; this is shown in various scenes in the beginning. The grandfather has told others that they will marry on her 17th birthday, just a few months from when our look at their lives again. The grandfather uses his bow and arrows to protect the young girl from other men trying to take advantage of her, and she herself is capable of using them as well to protect herself.
Grandfather also tells the fishermen their fortunes, in a very eccentric way!
Unfortunately, grandfather brings to his fishing business a father and his young son, a student (Seo Ji Suk); the girl's eyes light up and she takes an immediate liking to him; also his headset which she has never seen before.
The young student also takes interest in the young girl, and senses that she has been isolated for years in her predicament.
"Grandfather' sees this and does not approve, but the two younger people develop a friendship; and things start to unravel between grandfather and the young lady, who no one believes is his grand-daughter. Plot twists from here one lead to an un-imagined ending to the story!
The main cast are great in this movie; the two main characters effectively portray their affection to each other in their somewhat bizarre relationship; and also effectively show the strain on the relationship as the third character is added.
The third main character, Seo Ji Suk, although his role is limited, shows believable concern and passion for the young girl and disdain toward Grandfather.
The support actors play their limited roles convincingly, which allowed the development of the story between the main characters.
Most of the 'story' is nonverbal, in that it is small details of interaction between the main characters, primarily the grandfather and young girl, that have to be watched and interpreted by the viewer; making the emotions of the film come from visual rather than auditory emotions.
The cinematography was excellent, IMO, but the sound from the bow instrument irritated me. Nothing personal, but it made my skin crawl some. I wonder if this was the 'effect' that Kim Di Kuk wanted, or not?
I like how you have to use all of your senses, except olfactory, to watch and understand this film.
I also like the portrayal of a bathroom onboard a small boat; many people do not realize that this is the 'traditional' was of relieving yourself on small craft!
The young girl grew to hate the grandfather after the many truths came out about her life, but she could not abandon him in the end! She found out what she was missing from life with him, but still had the love of his being her one and only mother, father, brother, sister, medic, confidante and 'grandfather' for ten years of her life!
Try abandoning someone who you love for a decade, even if and when you find how much they lied to you.
I also, the first time I was this movie, realized that the grandfather's last 'act' was the only one he could take; he had been found out as being a kidnapper and also marrying a female under the age of 17...and he couldn't get his (main) boat engine started or fixed.
One of the most 'eerie' things about this movie is the boat itself, in the end; although I am not going to tell you what happened!
This film is 'eerie' but 'tantalizing' at the same time! I keep telling myself that I am never going to watch it again; and also tell myself the same thing halfway through the next time I watch it. Oh, well...
If you are smart, don't ever watch ANY film directed by Kim Di Kuk to being with; you won't be hooked then!
No tissue are needed for watching this movie, but clip your fingernails first, so that you won't make fingernail scratches on your chair or couch as you are glued to your seat, as this movie slowly messes with your mind watching it.
RE-WATCH VALUE: no comment!
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Great spinoff using cast from the orginal Love Lost In Time (2017)
First of all, if you watched the original 'Love Lost In Time', the last scene by Yin Cai Qian (Xu Mu Chan) was her growing up some and going in search of General/Prince Yuan Che (Simon Gong) , who was critically hurt in the defense of the Achai Tribe city that Black Armored Army was defending (original series LLIT).Since I thought we should also find out how these two ended up after LLIT ended, it fit perfectly with the expectations of the fans of the original.
This story picks up as Cai Qian is redirected to the Meandering Skies, where the body of General Che is recuperating and still in danger of losing his life. Che is attended by Ming Yan, Mage disciple (Mary Ma) and Yuan Li, 12th Prince and Keeper of the Sacred Pebbles of Nine Transformation (Jovi Xu), who is sent in a bracelet to assist Cai Qian in the three dream states where she must assist General Che in solving his 'nightmare' of three dreams in order for him to be fully recovered and able to marry Cai Qian; if either one of them dies in a dream state, she cannot return to the real world.
What follows is Cia Qian, dressed all except a few times as a man, discovering that General Che is more complicated than she anticipated. and her quest is hampered by both the head assassin of the Dark Mages and in the last dream a female chief Black Mage...
The chemistry between Cia Qian and General Che is as good as their relationship and interaction in the original LLIT; unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the interaction this time between Ming Yan and Yuan Li, who seem to be reading a script but not interacting for the most part in this series. An utter disappointment, as their chemistry in the original LLIT was part of the reason it was so good and I continued watching!
One additional point: Yuan Li, 12th Prince, finds a long-lost friend, who helps the main couple along the way!
The cinematography is excellent in this series as well as the original. The musical interludes also add to the reason to watch, and re-watch, this series! The use of the original sets and a majority of the original support cast made this a "must see" for anyone who likes Love Lost In Time's original series.
All in all, I am glad that i found this short jewel of a series!
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Award-winning performances all around....
This was excellently written and directed, superb cast performed by the main and support characters.A lone female and her wolf clan run free in the Gobi Desert...earlier the female has been captured by a human and exposed to human ways and lived briefly with the Tartars, until her "Papa" is killed by a greedy warrior who wants to become king of the desert Tartars, and she returns to her wolf pack.
A chance meeting with Ninth Lord and his caravan while stealing from them, our lone beautiful lady, Jin Yu, and the wolf that follows her, are let go. The Lord gives her a dress and salt, and bids Jin Yu goodbye. The lady changes into the dress and the next day she runs into a group of men, whom she later observes as being trained in martial arts, being attacked by desert pirates...after calling on her wolf pack, the pirates decide to abandon their attack on the foreigners.
The foreigners thank Jin Yu for her help and ask her for guidance through the desert; since her dead "Papa" has planned on taking her back to his home, the city of Jain-an, before being killed she guides them safely through the desert and remains in the city. Amongst the foreigners is the dashing General Wei Wu Ji.
What follows is a rapid advancement, after being drugged at first, of Jin Yu into being the House Manager at a dance theater/house; her wit, intelligence and {sometimes} unseen support from Ninth Lord's Shi Shipping business, lands her into profit and some prestige, yet also unneeded attention from the Palace hierarchy.
The second male lead, General Wei Wu Ji of the Nan Dynasty, saved by the wolf pack and our heroine, tries to find the wolf lady; however, while Wei Wu Ji is looking through the city for Yin Ju, , Ninth Lord has already found the wolf girl and is supporting her as much as possible (even staying with him part-time). Still Wei Wu Ji attempts to woo her, only to find her already in love with Ninth Lord.
A one-sided romance develops between our heroine Jin Yu and Ninth Lord, but as Ninth Lord continues to ignore her advances, Jin Yu is heartbroken, trying to be a 'tree' as Ninth Lord is, and also support him instead.
Jin Yu finally works up the nerve to directly tell Ninth Lord her feelings, but Ninth Lord still rebukes her and her love advances...this causes Jin Yu to abruptly leave Jain-an, leaving letters for her able house assistant, Ms. Hong, and Wei Wu Ji.
General Wei Wu Ji finds Jin Yu at a travel station along her route back to the desert, and abducts her to his military camp. After returning home with Wei Wu Ji, Jin Yu moves back to the dancing house, but later goes to live with Wei Wu Ji...Her emotions are set on a roller-coaster ride as she finds out the trouble that Ninth Lord went to trying to find her but he still rejects her Significant Other advances...and also troubling is the fact that Wei Wu Ji lied to Ninth Lord about knowing her whereabouts earlier...
Political intrigue enters the scene upon the two returning as 1) Wei Wu Ji becomes a pawn in the Court power struggles, especially with his adopted family, the Wan faction, and 2) the concubine, Qin Xiang, that Jin Yu trained so that she would be accepted into the Palace harem, rapidly gains power in the harem but turns on Jin Yu, causing her misadventure in the later episodes.
Although Jin Yu promised not to reveal the real reason for Madame Xiang's presence in the harem (vengeance, although others figured it out by themselves), she becomes the target of the Madame, partly for her being free and able to travel outside the palace and live her own life, a life that Madame Xiang begins to covet!
What started out as to men fighting over Jin Yu becomes a loose partnership between Ninth Lord and
General Wei Wu Ji , both supporting Jin Yu as she is attacked and placed into captivity by forces of the Wan faction, and both Yin Ju and Wei Wu Ji being poisoned. Both Yin Ju and Wei Wu Ji feel trapped by the political warfare in Jain-an City, and seek to stay apart from political intrigue; however, the Wang faction first tricks Wei Wu Ji in killing the head of the Li power faction, General Li ji, who happens to be the only supporter of Madame Xiang in the palace (besides the Emporer) while the Wan family plans a more morbid future for the General.
Thus, a plan is hatched to free them from Jain-an and service to the powerful Emporer; unfortunately, one of them does not know about it.
Al the actors and actresses, both main and support, performed their roles brilliantly...
Main Roles:
Shi Shi Lui, as Ying Ju, portrayed a cornucopia of emotions as she portrayed the female lead...going from chlld-like innocence in one scene to intelligently fending off attackers in the next. Especially dramatic was the two episodes of her childbirth and the following one: even though I know these are scripted series, I momentarily forgot this during the birthing scene and the two episodes after that....fantastic acting from a great actress!
I also especially loved Jin Yu's dance in the palace as the Tartar girls are performing and one is about to steal her man!
Hugh Hu, as Ninth Lord, portrayed a Stoic benefactor to the female lead, time and time sacrificing his money, and later his health, in supporting both Yin Ju and General Li Ji; many comments on the CN Drama (YouTube) site wish that a spinoff movie would be made in the future to have Ninth Lord finally find his love!
Eddie Peng, as General Wei Wu Ji, perfectly portrayed a platonic supporter of Yin Ju until he saw her response after Ninth Lord's last rejection of Yin Ju's love, then he easily portrayed Yin Ju's lover and supporter as well afterward.
Supporting Roles:
Han Dong, as General Li JI, was superb as a cohort of General Wei Wu Ji, and also as someone who tried to talk sense into Madame Xiang and save her from herself and the Palace harem she foolishly sought entry into...performing as well as he did in his roies in 'Love Lost In Time' and 'Scarlet Hearts'.
Fala Chen, as Madame Xiang, went from a level-headed sister to her episode brothers Qin Yong (Qin Yuan Chao) and
Zhang Xiang (Qin Yuan Qi) to a vindicitve but suffering madame in the harem of the Emperor...I personally saw her ending way before the final episode.
I think that she would be more than able to play a lead villianess in a major movie or series if given a chance!
Deng Li Min (Uncle Shi) and Han Zhen Hua (Uncle Chen), among the many other support actors/actresses that I do not have the time to mention here, put on superb roles as supporters of their respective houses in the series.
Superb writing, superb directing, superb acting....the ingredients to a great series!
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Only A Psychopath Would Watch This Movie!
WARNING: GRAPHIC VIOLENCE AND DEPICTIONS OF HUMAN EXPERIMENTATION! ^BI had to force myself to finish this movie; I do not understand why 'anyone' would even want to watch this crap!
Movies like this do nothing but keep teh hate that has smoldered ince WW II going.
If you really know me, I just love an 'oddball' movie once in a while...or more often...
This does not count as an oddball movie; the only person who should watch this movie is a person who denies the atrocities of WW II!
I wouldn't even consider it an "exploiation" movie since the leadership not only kills those who were prisoners, but also their own (Japanese) men!
I remember seeubg the original film under a different name, and it actually, in my opinion, somewhat worse than this one.
I like macabre and psychedelic movies, but frankly I wou;d not include this film in either category.
The only good genre listing is "HORROR": that it is, from start to finish!
MORE LATER!
As he is forced to kill the Chinese, his mental state begins to deteriorate.
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18 Year Old Muscle Queen Seong-hye's Sex Scandal
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64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!
64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!
64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!
64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!
64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!
64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!
64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!
64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!
64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!
64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!
64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!
64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!
64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!
64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!
64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!
64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!
64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!
64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!
64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!
64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!
64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!
64 Minutes Of Erotic Excitement!
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"They're Happy. We Were Right. They're Not Angry Anymore." NOT DONE PEOPLE!
This was such a cute little movie!Kids should love this is Mommy or Daddy explain to them that the Gappa's family is just as important as the kid's family. It portrayed a strong 'family values' message during the entire movie.
Contary to popular belief, most kids and many adults enjoyed being entertained in the past, and even today, by movies like this, which didn't/don't cost an arm and a leg to get into at a movie theater.
I was 10 or 11 years old when this movie came out, and I would have probably pooped my pants had I seen this movie then...
however, I didn't watch it until yesterday.
Its plot virtually duplicates that of the 1961 British film 'Gorgo'.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgo_(film)
This is a great film for pre-teens, plus it had a love story, and a lesson about the importance of 'family' as well.
...A time when model buidlings, toy tanks and the likes were used by the studios, and were destroyed without a major outlay of finances; but kids really didn't care, as long as the little girls screamed loudly at every sight of the 'monster'!
It also had a historical significance as well; I used to have models of the type aircraft used in this movie hanging from my bedroom ceiling during the time period covered here. The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was a single-engine, supersonic interceptor aircraft which was extensively deployed in the late 50s and early 60s as a fighter-bomber during the Cold War with Russia. The models used look exactly like that fighter that I had hanging from my bedroom ceiling!
The main cast Hiroshi Kurosaki (Tamio Kawachi ) and expedition photographer Itoko Koyanagi (lovely Yoko Yamamoto) act as if they were really a couple and both played the melodrama excellently, adding humor to the story line as they went.
The support cast also fulfill their roles very well, and assist the main ccast in the primary story as well.
Magazine owner Mr. Funazu provided a great villian, refusing to lete teh babby Gappa go even when he knew that the baby's parents were indestructable and unstoppable by the Japanese and American military.
Mashida (Kōji Wada) provides much comic relief throughout the movie, and wins my vote for best support cast member!
Special kudos to Hiroshita Atami and Takashi Konagaias as Gappa (male and bigger) gappa parent, and Ken Misugi and Shiro Tonami as Gappa (female) gappa parent.
ThIs movie, especially sent me into the past memories of my mind, when directors and actors could tell a story witout it costing an arm and a leg. That alone was worth watching this movie!
However, I stil canot find the name of the youg actress who played Mr.Funazu's daughter; after th eGappas her and the young native boy stole the movie!
More about the Gappa!
The Gappas (ガッパ Gappa) are a species of ancient monsters. Two adult Gappas, male (雄ガッパ Osu Gappa) and female (雌ガッパ Mesu Gappa), and their baby son first appear in the 1967 Nikkatsu kaiju film, Gappa.
Contents
Design
Origins
History
Showa era
Gappa
Abilities
Flight
Amphibiousness
Physical abilities
Radiant Heat Beam
Bioluminescence
Pearl-like substance
Electricity
Filmography
Gallery
Trivia
References
Comments
Design
All three of the Gappas share the same characteristics, as they are based on various reptiles and birds, such as eagles and hawks. Overall, they resemble enormous bipedal griffins. As exhibited in the two adults seen in the film, the species is sexually dimorphic. The female has a smaller head crest and has a flatter face compared to her mate. Their scales are triangle-shaped, and their eyelids are the reverse to that of humans. The Gappas' wings are unlike those of birds; they are actually evolved ribs.[1]
Origins
In ancient times, the Gappas would fight other monsters for survival. They were already present when Earth was still an interstellar cloud, suggesting that the Gappas originated in outer space.[1]
History
Showa era
Gappa
An expedition to Obelisk Island by Mr. Funazu uncovers a baby monster, who hatches from an egg near a sacred temple. The natives plead with the skeptical scientists not to take the baby away, lest it anger the baby's parents. Sure enough, they take the baby away, and soon, inside the caverns, its two parents rise from the underground waters beneath the volcano, destroying everything in their path. Saki, the only survivor, is rescued by an American navy fleet and brought back to Japan.
The parents storm across Japan, destroying all in their wake, but their assault ceases once they recover their baby. Mercifully, they relent and depart to return to Obelisk Island.
Abilities
Flight
The Gappas can fly at a maximum speed of Mach 6.[2]
Amphibiousness
The Gappas have a maximum underwater speed of 150 knots.[2]
Physical abilities
The Gappas have a destructive force of 2 million horsepower. The Gappas' wings can emit hurricane-force winds; they can also cause tsunamis or storm surges using this ability.[1][2]
Radiant Heat Beam
The adult Gappas can fire a 4,000-degree Celsius Radiant Heat Beam (放射熱光線 Hōshanetsu Kōsen)[2] from their mouths. This is described as being "comparable to a death ray" in the film, it can also burn or melt anything it makes contact with. This ability is also speculated in the film to make the Gappas immune to poisons.
Bioluminescence
The Gappas emit bioluminescence from their eyes, which appears blue-white underwater and yellow on land.
Pearl-like substance
The female Gappa possesses a pearl-like substance within her body, likely stored in her legs. This substance can cause humans to go blind.[1]
Electricity
The baby Gappa's body is electrified and causes electric arcs/sparks whenever metals are attached to its body. This may suggest that adult Gappas are also able to emit electricity.
Filmography
Gappa (1967)
Yuzo the Biggest Battle in Tokyo (2022) [toys]
Trivia
Stock footage of the adult Gappas appears in an episode of the British sci-fi comedy series Red Dwarf, "Meltdown", where they are enormous wax-droids roaming the Prehistoric World section of an abandoned theme park. Though intimidated, the mechanoid Kryten quips "I can't believe how feeble and improbable those creatures were, sir. I've seen more convincing dinosaurs given away free with a packet of Wheaty-Flakes."
An anatomical illustration noted that Gappa could emit "heat wave beams" from their eyes.[3
Spookykiryu Gigan before he was gigan
Shadowthewolf432 When Rodan Finds the weed
Shadow gojira fan Godzilla + Kappa + Griffin + Rodan = Gappa
Just A GoJi FaN Why didn't they get a sequel :( they're really underrated.
Godzilla .Junior1000 This is my little brother's favourite kaiju
Shin evangelion When Gamera and other kaiju mated and then boom , Gappa was born
SKuLL cRaWLer The Gappas look like if iguanadons had wings
SkullIslandExplorer Are they inspired by the Kappa? They look pretty similar. (FYI: Kappa are water monsters of Japanese
folklore
Godzilla .Junior1000 they are
KING GHIDORAH 19 their heads look like turtles
MosuFan2005 They are very cool, but they are really really really underrated. :(
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Better movie than I anticipated!
"In Japan, during the reign of Shogun Yoshimune, it is the era of the samurai and the ninja. Many villages are outwardly peaceful, but a twisted sexual underbelly exists that affects more than just the criminals. Kaede and her sister are unfortunately victims of this when the elder is raped and commits suicide shortly thereafter. Kaede seeks vengeance, and a lady ninja nun who hears of the events aids her in the search. There is more to the story behind the rape, however, and the lies and secrets are slowly revealed behind a trail of clothing, sweat, and blood"I don't know who wrote this main detaisl, but they never watched the movie!
This is the true outline for the movie:
"In Japan, during the reign of Shogun Yoshimune, it is the era of the samurai and the ninja.
Many villages are outwardly peaceful, but a twisted sexual underbelly exists that affects more than just the criminals. Kaede and her sister are unfortunately victims of this when the eldest sister is raped and commits suicide shortly thereafter.
Kaede seeks vengeance, and a lady ninja nun who hears of the events aids her in the search. There is more to the story behind the rape, however, and the lies and secrets are slowly revealed behind a trail of clothing, sweat, and blood"
This was a neat little movie, with just enough swordplay, suspence and action for the person who wants this out of a movie, while it also has some titillating parts for those who crave more!
There are also several twists in the movie as it progresses, with the actual rapost being taken out in a most 'unique' way!
There is comedy, satire, action, drama and plot twists here!
Luna Akatsuki aka Runa Akatsuki
as Lady Kaede
Kôji Fujiyoshi
Kazu Itsuki
Hideo Kato
Mankichi Maeda
Yuka Sakagami
Masato Takaoka
Shin Takayuki
Kagawa Tateo
Hideki Yokohori
Wakabayashi Yoshio
Director
Takayuki Kagawa
No one besides Runa appears in the MDL list of cast; and I don't have the time to try and find each and every other cast members as well.
There is a second movie, which I will add and rate as I have the time.
There was little music, but the cinematography was great, and main and support cast were well-matched and kept the story going well.
My only complaint was the death of the elder sister's boyfriend, who was assisting his beau's sister until his demise.
RE-WATCH VALUE: Yes!
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Wasted Superb Cast On A Movie That Could have Been Better!
I have to admit my first viewing of this movie was not good; it had English subtitles superimposed over three or four Asian translations as well...not good!
I finally found a clean copy which led to a better experience.
Our story starts out with Woo Ju Ho (Park Gun Hyung) living it up around the night circuit of his city; later we find out that it is his grandfather's wealth that he is blowing!
His grandfather, played by Jung Wook, has a serious medical problem (I will let you find out what it is when you watch the movie), and he is adamant to give his wealth to charity; unless or course, Ju Jo reluctantly mends his ways and teaches school for two years to earn his inheritance!
Being a former top administration, (I guess) grandfather pulls a few strings and gets Ju Ho into a high school teaching sophomore math. I wondered if you need a special "teacher's certification" or not in South Korea, or did "grandpa" pull some strings and get this waived somehow; it never tells you what degree if any Woo Ju Ho possessed.
Anyway, without even registering with the school, Woo Ju Ho shows up for the first day of class as any other playboy would: arrogant, self-assured, and completely without a clue about the educational system.
Even though he is 'teaching' he is still playing the night life; he gets into trouble several times; due to his 'social ineptness' Teacher Yun So Joo (Kim Hyo Jin) decides to teach him the social skills necessary to navigate the social climate of a high school...little did she know what she was getting into!
The first half of this movie basically follows the above outline; however, even though this is not a 'bad' movie, it is not a great movie!
I saw Park Gun Hyung in the movie Innocent Steps (2005) with the great Korean actress Moon Geun Young (I haven't had time to review it yet!). Park Gun Hyung seemed like he was not really interested in acting in this movie, or the director isn't
giving him what he needs.
He was so much better in Innocent Steps!
It is as if someone is telling him to "suppose" something is supposed to happen without a script, then after filming that scene, him being told to "suppose" something else, but different, is going to take place.
The scenes don't seem to have go together; there is comedy and some innuendo, but it doesn't seem to all work together like a movie should.
If you want some laughs go ahead and watch this movie, but it doesn't seem to "fit together" well.
The second half is better, with Woo Ju Ho actually beginning to 'act' like a teacher and gives some good advice to the students coming to him for help.
In this segment, student Choi Jin Ju (the lovely Song Eun Chae) who plays a young girl who experiences an 'incident' which causes her to want to drop out of school, or at least 'that' school, and Woo Ju Ho attempts to help her with this problem: he also chooses (again kind of "out of the blue" to attempt to woo teacher Yun So Joo after she has been helping him: there was really little inference as her being interested in him, but again, the story seems to change all the way through with little hints or setup for changes.
I liked the scene where Yun So Joo sings for her ex-boyfriend and best girlfriend: one of the best scenes!
The music wasn't bad and the cinematography also is really good. The main cast keep the story going, except for the fact that the connections aren't there always; and the support cast is also good at aiding the two main stars in the movie.
Two kudos for support staff: 'Grandpa' (Jung Wook) and the side story with Ju Ho; and Song Eun Chae, whose side story basically saves the second half!
The other problem with my enjoying this movie is the fighting between the male students; I guess if I understood Korean culture better I would understand why the last fight occurred.
It ended different that I expected, but it still was good: not great, but good!
One final note: the support cast actor Moon Ji-yoon passed away from blood poisoning on the 18th of March 2022, about the time I watched this last.
Condolences to his family, friends, acting connections and others.
RE-WATCH VALUE: Only occasionally.
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