ShiningSuede

lol, you use me ;D I checked the film, it's sixth part of some series, I guess it's pinku eiga. I got this feeling at the beginning and I won't be surprised if it is. Miike is making so many different genres XD

I haven't seen it. I only heard about it long time ago and when you told me about this film... my urge to see it just started ;D I really have a thing for weird films... ;)

I just wanted to write to you ;) Now I'm thinking about giving it a bit higher rate than 6 'cause this film was meant to be a typical slasher and it was pretty nice one. But no deep philosophy or anything like that. It's something for slasher fans - those films are not meant to have much sense. But! Big plus for Miike 'cause you're on the side of the students, you don't think that killer is "cool". It's now random in many horror films to show violence and nothing more. Hmm... yeah, I should give now higher rate, and yes I'll :D

I've seen only father too, also in few samurai and new wave films from 60'. He's even in my avi ;)

You mean younger or older? lol. I'm really curious about Takehiro, his father is really talented and has amazing magnetism on screen.

So it can be a problem with "Ichi". Some stuff was gory and some kinda weird. It was said that people were going out from the cinema while this film, in Australia operator stopped projection. Yeah, that's Miike, lol.

Still watching. I'll wait to the end of the film ;)

Haha, I even forgot that I gave Gozu such a high rate. But well, you love it or hate it. Probably one day I'll watch it again.

Yes, Miike is famous and made a lot (really a lot) films. Check "Ichi The Killer" - it was called the most violent film in the world. But you have a strong stomach ;) And it has few lines which I love, really. They're really weird and not many people would like this kind of humour. There's one scene which was considered as very disturbung but to be honest, I knew from the very beginning it will end, no surprise.

Hard to get Gozu's synopsis 'cause I'm not even sure about what this was, lol. Really crazy trip.

I'm going to see "Lesson of Evil". I heard it's not his best film but still I'm curious. I don't think it'll be like Audition 'cause for me this film has a really deep meaning, telling a lot about being just human (I'm surprising myself that I gave this film kind of philosophy but I think it was considered by Miike in this way). It makes me even double curious 'cause there's son of Hira Mikijiro - not well known actor outside Japan but pretty amazing and experimenting as actor. I wonder about his son's talent (btw, they look so similiar, Takehiro is younger copy of his father).

But now I need to end film "Charisma" by Kurosawa Kiyoshi. Pretty nice director, still looking for his perfect film I think.

And one more thought. Asami was crazy but still, it doesn't change much. You don't know who would come for this audition, it was easy to lie. Aoyama started everything with lie and Asami was doing the same.

"Audition" really made me think, lol.

"Gozu" should be watched that way but I think it has something with philosophy of zen (Gozu was even name of Japanese zen school).

Aoyama slept with his co-worker, he had fantasies about his son's girlfriend, maybe he had a thing with a housekeeper. Relationship with his wife is not so clear. In one of his dreams she was saying that Asami is not a girl for him. Maybe he was kinda addicted to his wife? She was his ideal woman and listening to her opinions, even after her death. He didn't shake off feelings towards her. So the torture which he had could be a kind of punishment. In Miike's films women are not the strongest but this one changed it for me. It showed power of women, power of life and death. And really, idea of audition? He needed to lie to find someone. It's not a good way to start a relationship. One thoughts to come I think ;D

How did you get to China? If I can ask of course :) And still, you have seen important places anyway.

I feel so lazy, you learn so much and I? Only Chinese and read stuff which I want, not this what I should, lol.

One more message 'cause I love to write long comments ;)

Miike made so many films, he's a little bit like a Stepehen King, making a lot, sometimes pieces of art, sometimes blockbusters etc. I've seen only three films (without "Audition") - "Ichi The Killer", "Gozu" and "Ai to makoto". The last one was really weird and I was close to not end but well, when I start Japanese film, I'll end it no matter what. I enjoyed first two and both like "Audition" are pretty shocking.

"Ichi" is based on manga and it's kinda made in a manga way, it's very quick, violent and gory. It's important to spot details. And Asano Tadanobu was pure genius there. He played yakuza and the character was so over the top but he handle it. He made really memorable character.

"Gozu" - I still don't know what was happening in this film. The weirdest I've ever seen but definitely worth watching.

I'm so glad that you enjoyed it :D I'm definitely see this film as you, a psychological mystery and thriller.

I'm on the fence if Aoyama was dreaming everything or not. Some things are obvious thing but torture scene was impossibly realistic, very far from the dream-like. Of course there was moment when Asami was speaking to him when she was already dead but we can interprete it as a mind playing tricks. But the most important for me is that Aoyama, in my thoughts, haven't been such a good and warm hearted person. Meeting with Asami showed what was really inside him. From the beginning I was wondering why this one co-worker was so nice to him, I thought that something's wrong and ta-da, at the end I got the answer. I must think more about his wife, I'm still not sure about her.

And how was "Audition"? I'm so imapatient, I know. I've read many interpretations of this films and I'm so curious what you think. Miike as always crushed my mind into little pieces ;)

I was looking for, at the moment it's impossible to get it. And it annoys me, really. Now I'm really curious about "Seppuku's" remake.

13 Assassins is a remake of the film from 64'. I'm pretty sure the script stayed the same as the original. I'm not saying I don't like Yamada's trilogy - I haven't seen it. Everytime when I pick chanbara, I choose older ones, especially from the golden age of Japanese cinema - 60'. Some are typical blockbusters of those times and some with "morals" or a mixture of both. I'm pretty close to see "Ichimei" which is a remake of awesome film "Seppuku". Again, I think Miike didn't change much script. In plus is appearance of Hira Takehiro who's son of quite famous actor in Japan, Hira Mikijiro.

And I need you to keep me update with newer ones ;) For months I'm trying to watch trilogy with "The Twilight Samurai" - even when I know that director was working also in 60'. In this place there's like 10 older films, yes, I'm awful sometimes ;D

If I see anyone interested in such films, I'm going to spot it ;) I'm watching mostly older jidaigeki and chanbara, I don't have heart for new ones (I enjoyed "13 Assassins", that's true ;) ). Enjoy your samurai films journey and never fear to ask about some films ;)

it's so great to see more and more loving for the samurai cinema. Cheers and keep watching more ;)

I shouldn't have time for Chinese or Japanese at all but I found it ;) At the moment I have slow pace, I think it'll be better with the teacher. Japanese I'm able to handle alone but Chinese is a different cup of tea.

Where you've been in China? It's pretty big country ;)