My faulty retelling of the featured article about the new movies in the CUT magazine:
- Takeru had to be convinced to reprise his role. The Kyoto Inferno/Legend Ends had been super exhausting for the whole crew so Takeru didn't want to agree to go through that ordeal again unless the project was worth it.
- Tsuiokuhen arc is Takeru's favourite (note that he calls it 'Tsuiokuhen' which is the title of the OVA; the title of the arc in the manga is different) so he was really worried about whether the new movies could do it justice. He was also worried about Jinchuu arc and whether it's possible to gracefully combine the two. Moreover, he knew that the plot device about Kaoru was already used in the Kyoto Inferno.
- Thus, Takeru really wanted to play Kenshin (once in a lifetime role for him) and especially to play Kenshin in Tsuiokuhen but he was reluctant to star in a poor-thought-out adaptation.
- Takeru was then successfully convinced and he now says that The Beginning is a masterpiece. The movies were shot consequently and not simultaneously due to his wish (he needed to play post-Kyoto-arc Kenshin, Battousai, reformed Battousai, and reformed Kenshin. So he wanted to at least not play them all at the same time). Nevertheless, the shooting was almost as hard and unforgiving as before.
- Takeru struggled with understanding Kenshin's emotions at the end of Jinchuu arc.
- Otomo had many reservations too. Jinchuu arc needed at least two movies which is 5 years of work. He wanted to shoot his other projects too.
- Otomo also noted that Ruroken movies are closer to pure action adventure genre and so every little detail and plot point have to be spelled out. He prefers more subtle storytelling. Tsuiokuhen is also a part of Ruroken that invites subtlety and that clashes with the needs of action movie.
- There was also a concern that Tsuiokuhen is a harsh tragedy with romance at its core. The audience of the movies expects fun action - not tragic romance. The viewers also don't necessary care about Kenshin's past. Moreover, Battousai is arguably a villain and the audience that got used to the hero!Kenshin may reject him once they see Battousai in his bloody glory.
- That's why The Final will be non-stop action and The Beginning will include the Tsuiokuhen part.
- Otomo also noted that previously Kenshin fought power-hungry villains. But now he will have to fight Enishi, someone with legitimate reason for revenge. Will the viewers be on Enishi's side at the end? That was also a concern.
- Otomo is sure that Mackenyu is a perfect casting. He said that Mackenyu would surprise everyone just like Takeru had done before.
- Enishi is Kenshin's perfect foil. So Mackenyu had to play Enishi just right to give room to Takeru's Kenshin. And Mackenyu did deliver the much needed raw emotion.
- Mackenyu worked very hard and rehearsed his lines every spare minute. He also got in shape specifically for the role.
- Everyone remained mum on the topic of Tomoe's casting. They aren't telling us, it seems.
OMG... teaser is out and looking good ~ and for some reason, my heart is beating fast watching it...lol...Still…
Casting for Hiko Seijuro wasn't revealed until the premiere of Kyoto Inferno. There is a possibility they won't reveal it's Arimura Kasumi who plays Tomoe until The Final is out. This seems bizarre (she doesn't have Masahara's star power) but now it's the most likely option.
Asking for spoilers: is there a love triangle? Happy ending?
There is some heartbreak at the end but you can see it coming from the first episode so it's not a surprise.
As to love triangle... Male lead has a fiance but doesn't spend much time with her. The most important person to him is the prince he wants to put on the throne but he doesn't spend that much time with him either. So there are many intense emotions but little melodrama or romance.
Haha thanks! I've tried to judge acting skills fairly so the list would not be made just out of my faves.Kamiki…
Haha, that's true!
And here's to hoping for Suda playing mainstream roles where he doesn't get to molest anyone.
I personally haven't watched Byakuyakou but I heard that it's quite dark (lots of rape and gender violence) and is a bit on a melo side. Which are not negative teaits, of course. I'm myself more of a detective lover.
Btw Yamada stars in an upcoming movie where he plays a single father. I wonder whether it means he slowly gets invited back to positive roles.
I'm glad there's 2 of my ultimate favourites in this list (Satoshi Tsumabuki & Ryunosuke Kamiki!) and also there's…
Haha thanks! I've tried to judge acting skills fairly so the list would not be made just out of my faves.
Kamiki is one of my faves too! I am looking forward to his up coming Spring drama.
Suda plays criminals/villains almost everywhere. Petty criminals: Light shines only there, Uchijima loan shark, Wilderness, Runaway, Distruction Babies, Residents etc. Even his character in Dele is under arrest and goes on trial in the first 5 mins of the 1st episode. Villains: 35years Old Shoolgirl, Death Note spin-off, Shinigami-kun etc. I didn't include some projects to avoid spoilers. Plus, there are several projects where his character rapes or molests female characters. I even have a nickname (suda-sshole) for his roles like this because there are too many.
Yamada Takayuki famously didn't marry the woman who gave birth to their child. That put a stop to his mainstream career many years ago. That's why he has no major awards despite movies like Monsterz boasting him and Fujiwara in the cast as "two acting titans against each other".
But if you are curious he has many great roles. Crows Zero and Dele (his duet with Suda Masaki there is out of this world) are the most viewer-friendly (his early legendary dramas are a bit too old-fashioned now while his recent projects tend to feature him playing disgusting repelling characters). Yamada is drop-dead gorgeous, as charismatic as they come, and can act. He's really the ultimate Japanese actor.
The movie is called Parasites and at first the viewer think it means the poor family that deceives the rich family. Then we see another poor family that lives literally as cockroaches in the dark hidden place of the rich family's house.
Poor families fight with each other for survival as animals.
But in the end the viewer is shown that Parasites meant the rich family all along. It is them who dehumanizes and ignores poor people. Who contributes to economy where hard-working decent people have to become cockroaches and murderers to survive.
In a sense, the Parasites are us, the whole society that contributes to class divide. And our inaction leads to people living in absolutely atrocious environments, where their suffering is beyond imagination.
This is the most obvious message but there are many more. I'm not qualified enough to discuss them but there are papers and articles about them.
I can't help it but I keep reading the comments below like the reviews on Mona Lisa. "I though it was supposed to be the masterpiece but all I see is this semi-bald woman without eyebrows. Wasn't she supposed to have an unexplainable charm? Why is she so ugly? Does everyone proclaims it a masterpiece because of politics of 16th century Europe?"
Well, Parasites hasn't yet withstood a test of time. And to blindly believe the opinions of awards committees is certainly wrong. But, come on, people. This is not "an Emperor's new clothes" situation. No one is claiming Parasites is the movie for everyone. But to call it 'nothing special' because you didn't like it... Isn't it a bit ungracious?
I do not know what to say. I've watched it because it received several awards. But, I feel like it is not as impressive…
I think Parasites is not an entertaining movie.
Mainstream public didn't jump to watch it when it received Palm D'or at Cannes. But after it got oscars it seemed very plausible that the movie had to have some entertaining value, some mainstream appeal. I think a lot of people expected it to be Oldboy 2 - a dark thriller with crazy plot, dramatic scenes where someone cuts their own tongue, stuff like that.
But Parasites appeal lies in its perfect execution and the accessibility and unuversality of its message.
If one doesn't particularly care about cinematic side and prefers to watch movies for the thrill and not for the message then Parasites is not for them.
I am one of those people, for example. I'm in awe of the execution, I'd say the movie deserves all of the awards. But I can't help but wishfully think that it was a dark thriller and not this story that leaves you disgusted with yourself and horrified.
Can anyone tell me if the movie is good? I'm planning to watch it but I'm not sure if I should. Also, is there…
It's a brilliant movie from the artistic and story-telling points of view. So it's a must watch for those who enjoy cinema as artistic form.
It also has lots of dark (but really funny) humour and some suspense (but there is no jump-scares or gore).
The message is very clear so the viewer is not left in the dark by the end of the movie.
It is interesting to watch and leaves the viewer reeling for days.
But it doesn't give the viewer a dark thrill, it doesn't aim to entertain, and it's not about dramatic reveals of "Luke, I'm your father" style. So it's easy to watch but it's not the most entertaining thriller out there.
Watch it to see what a phrase "cinematic masterpiece" means, but don't watch it if you are looking for entertaining thriller.
Trigger warnings: all the scary stuff is in the implications of the story. So there is nothing graphic apart from some light gore. It's a dusturbing movie but due to its themes not due to graphic rape or nudity or other stuff art house movies like to show.
Oh, can you please recommend some other detective/thriller/mystery K-dramas? I read so many recommendations and gave a try to Missing Noir M but I found it quite cringy (maybe the first episode was bad?). So now I'm wary of OCN and the likes. But there must be dramas as good as Signal, right?
The story is deceptively simple and that's why people complain the movie is overhyped. But once you realise what the message is, the scope of it and the masterful way the story was told seem terrifying in their glory.
This is truly a movie that grips you hard and won't leave you for a long time after the credits rolled.
- Takeru had to be convinced to reprise his role. The Kyoto Inferno/Legend Ends had been super exhausting for the whole crew so Takeru didn't want to agree to go through that ordeal again unless the project was worth it.
- Tsuiokuhen arc is Takeru's favourite (note that he calls it 'Tsuiokuhen' which is the title of the OVA; the title of the arc in the manga is different) so he was really worried about whether the new movies could do it justice. He was also worried about Jinchuu arc and whether it's possible to gracefully combine the two. Moreover, he knew that the plot device about Kaoru was already used in the Kyoto Inferno.
- Thus, Takeru really wanted to play Kenshin (once in a lifetime role for him) and especially to play Kenshin in Tsuiokuhen but he was reluctant to star in a poor-thought-out adaptation.
- Takeru was then successfully convinced and he now says that The Beginning is a masterpiece. The movies were shot consequently and not simultaneously due to his wish (he needed to play post-Kyoto-arc Kenshin, Battousai, reformed Battousai, and reformed Kenshin. So he wanted to at least not play them all at the same time). Nevertheless, the shooting was almost as hard and unforgiving as before.
- Takeru struggled with understanding Kenshin's emotions at the end of Jinchuu arc.
- Otomo had many reservations too. Jinchuu arc needed at least two movies which is 5 years of work. He wanted to shoot his other projects too.
- Otomo also noted that Ruroken movies are closer to pure action adventure genre and so every little detail and plot point have to be spelled out. He prefers more subtle storytelling. Tsuiokuhen is also a part of Ruroken that invites subtlety and that clashes with the needs of action movie.
- There was also a concern that Tsuiokuhen is a harsh tragedy with romance at its core. The audience of the movies expects fun action - not tragic romance. The viewers also don't necessary care about Kenshin's past. Moreover, Battousai is arguably a villain and the audience that got used to the hero!Kenshin may reject him once they see Battousai in his bloody glory.
- That's why The Final will be non-stop action and The Beginning will include the Tsuiokuhen part.
- Otomo also noted that previously Kenshin fought power-hungry villains. But now he will have to fight Enishi, someone with legitimate reason for revenge. Will the viewers be on Enishi's side at the end? That was also a concern.
- Otomo is sure that Mackenyu is a perfect casting. He said that Mackenyu would surprise everyone just like Takeru had done before.
- Enishi is Kenshin's perfect foil. So Mackenyu had to play Enishi just right to give room to Takeru's Kenshin. And Mackenyu did deliver the much needed raw emotion.
- Mackenyu worked very hard and rehearsed his lines every spare minute. He also got in shape specifically for the role.
- Everyone remained mum on the topic of Tomoe's casting. They aren't telling us, it seems.
1) Who is the guy in white in the beginning of the trailer? Did Kenshin really fight any of Enishi's handmen? I can't recall.
2) There is a shot of Kenshin just after he has received his scar. Woah! Just like in the ova!
3) As expected, Mackenyu looks gorgeous. One prodigy fights another! Looks great.
As to love triangle... Male lead has a fiance but doesn't spend much time with her. The most important person to him is the prince he wants to put on the throne but he doesn't spend that much time with him either. So there are many intense emotions but little melodrama or romance.
And Yamada looks very adorable in the trailer, right?
And here's to hoping for Suda playing mainstream roles where he doesn't get to molest anyone.
I personally haven't watched Byakuyakou but I heard that it's quite dark (lots of rape and gender violence) and is a bit on a melo side. Which are not negative teaits, of course. I'm myself more of a detective lover.
Btw Yamada stars in an upcoming movie where he plays a single father. I wonder whether it means he slowly gets invited back to positive roles.
Kamiki is one of my faves too! I am looking forward to his up coming Spring drama.
Suda plays criminals/villains almost everywhere. Petty criminals: Light shines only there, Uchijima loan shark, Wilderness, Runaway, Distruction Babies, Residents etc. Even his character in Dele is under arrest and goes on trial in the first 5 mins of the 1st episode. Villains: 35years Old Shoolgirl, Death Note spin-off, Shinigami-kun etc. I didn't include some projects to avoid spoilers. Plus, there are several projects where his character rapes or molests female characters. I even have a nickname (suda-sshole) for his roles like this because there are too many.
Yamada Takayuki famously didn't marry the woman who gave birth to their child. That put a stop to his mainstream career many years ago. That's why he has no major awards despite movies like Monsterz boasting him and Fujiwara in the cast as "two acting titans against each other".
But if you are curious he has many great roles. Crows Zero and Dele (his duet with Suda Masaki there is out of this world) are the most viewer-friendly (his early legendary dramas are a bit too old-fashioned now while his recent projects tend to feature him playing disgusting repelling characters). Yamada is drop-dead gorgeous, as charismatic as they come, and can act. He's really the ultimate Japanese actor.
The parallel with food stands, of corse. But the stone was not a peace offering.
Poor families fight with each other for survival as animals.
But in the end the viewer is shown that Parasites meant the rich family all along. It is them who dehumanizes and ignores poor people. Who contributes to economy where hard-working decent people have to become cockroaches and murderers to survive.
In a sense, the Parasites are us, the whole society that contributes to class divide. And our inaction leads to people living in absolutely atrocious environments, where their suffering is beyond imagination.
This is the most obvious message but there are many more. I'm not qualified enough to discuss them but there are papers and articles about them.
Well, Parasites hasn't yet withstood a test of time. And to blindly believe the opinions of awards committees is certainly wrong. But, come on, people. This is not "an Emperor's new clothes" situation. No one is claiming Parasites is the movie for everyone. But to call it 'nothing special' because you didn't like it... Isn't it a bit ungracious?
Mainstream public didn't jump to watch it when it received Palm D'or at Cannes. But after it got oscars it seemed very plausible that the movie had to have some entertaining value, some mainstream appeal. I think a lot of people expected it to be Oldboy 2 - a dark thriller with crazy plot, dramatic scenes where someone cuts their own tongue, stuff like that.
But Parasites appeal lies in its perfect execution and the accessibility and unuversality of its message.
If one doesn't particularly care about cinematic side and prefers to watch movies for the thrill and not for the message then Parasites is not for them.
I am one of those people, for example. I'm in awe of the execution, I'd say the movie deserves all of the awards. But I can't help but wishfully think that it was a dark thriller and not this story that leaves you disgusted with yourself and horrified.
It also has lots of dark (but really funny) humour and some suspense (but there is no jump-scares or gore).
The message is very clear so the viewer is not left in the dark by the end of the movie.
It is interesting to watch and leaves the viewer reeling for days.
But it doesn't give the viewer a dark thrill, it doesn't aim to entertain, and it's not about dramatic reveals of "Luke, I'm your father" style. So it's easy to watch but it's not the most entertaining thriller out there.
Watch it to see what a phrase "cinematic masterpiece" means, but don't watch it if you are looking for entertaining thriller.
Trigger warnings: all the scary stuff is in the implications of the story. So there is nothing graphic apart from some light gore. It's a dusturbing movie but due to its themes not due to graphic rape or nudity or other stuff art house movies like to show.
Thanks a lot!
The story is deceptively simple and that's why people complain the movie is overhyped. But once you realise what the message is, the scope of it and the masterful way the story was told seem terrifying in their glory.
This is truly a movie that grips you hard and won't leave you for a long time after the credits rolled.