Was this review helpful to you?
Become erect... with your heart!
I feel like this is the kind of movie that could be considered a classicI mean it already is a cult classic but I think this movie is kind of timeless
This movie does not feel like 4 hours at all, and never gets dull
If somebody saw what I looked like watching the entire last hour and a half they'd think I'm insane
Very thematically rich while delivering one of the most ridiculous and engaging stories I've seen in a film so far and hitting emotional beats very effectively, also made me laugh a fair bit
Great characters, acting was realistic when it mattered and goofy when it needed to be
If you can find a four hour time slot and are up for some wild and sometimes disturbing stuff, I wholeheartedly recommend Love Exposure
Was this review helpful to you?
It's Hell if I stay. Hell if I go. If both are Hell…
Absolutely beautiful and tragic movie, really unique visuals, and fantastic soundtrack. Great acting from Miki Nakatani especially as the titular Matsuko, who is probably one of my favourite movie characters. Very engaging and entertaining tragicomedy which balances the two opposing tones very well. Extremely sad but also beautiful.Nakashima is an amazing director. Having watched Kamikaze Girls and The World of Kanako now, I can say that Memories of Matsuko is my favourite of his (and probably one of my favourite movies period). I'd also say that he is one of my favourite directors, the way he incorporates music into his scenes is fantastic and burns both the scenes and the songs into your head.
Was this review helpful to you?
A wild ride but unmistakably Nakashima
Interesting movie with great directing and editing (as usual for Nakashima) with a great cast and great visuals, however the story becomes really hard to follow towards the end. Interesting character writing and themes about family and childhood.The movie was not very subtle with its themes but they also somehow get buried under how batshit crazy the final act is. It probably makes sense to somebody but that somebody is not me. The general message and ending is clear but the majority of the events in the last act are just insane.
Was this review helpful to you?
Interesting commentary on perversion and sexualisation in Japan from some girls chasing material but empty desires, and some men who are pathetic and lonely and others who are screwed in the head.
Was this review helpful to you?
Lingers in your mind long after the end credits
Edit: I still find myself thinking about this a LOT. One of the most memorable movies I've ever seen, I can see myself still remembering this in decades. Probably the most impactful movie I've ever watched. It refuses to leave my mind, but I can't bring myself to give it 5 stars.A good movie with some really great moments bogged down by an overreliance on shock value which cheapens some scenes. Compared to some of Sono's other movies, I found that some of the shocking scenes didn't have as much artistic merit and it detracted from the experience.
Absolutely insane performances from everybody, the two leads being the standouts. Denden's Yukio Murata was well acted and terrifying but Kippei Shiina's Joe Murata was the better Murata imo. Mitsuru Fukikoshi's Shamoto was an interesting character and very well acted. Some scenes were genuinely chilling. The visuals were also nice in general and the soundtrack was also well used. The Skater's Waltz can be really scary (⓿_⓿).
Really uncomfortable and unnerving watch which I found more fucked than The Forest of Love. I think the reason I prefer The Forest of Love is because it was done with more sense and more tastefully, as tastefully as intense gore can be I guess. It felt like things had purpose and a meaning. I guess the point of this is it felt like it didn't have purpose or meaning. Interested to watch more Sono, he is an interesting director. If you can't stomach gore, absolutely do not watch this. This is definitely something that will linger with me for a long time.
Was this review helpful to you?
Awesome fight choreography
Really really awesome fight choreography, definitely lives up to its title.The plot is pretty basic but its easy to follow and get into and it helps facilitate some of the coolest and most exciting fights I've seen in a while.
The fights in here felt like exactly what live action Ryu Ga Gotoku fights should be. Thank you for the rec @bjorkshandy, this was very fun.
Was this review helpful to you?
"Flowers are meant to bloom, not to dry up."
A very bleak, angsty, and introspective but beautiful story of shattered dreams, dying and blooming flowers, and disillusioned youth lost to violence and neglect, mundane with sudden bursts of extreme brutality and violence. Well directed with a great soundtrack and some really pretty shots. Toyoda and Kasamatsu have a great eye for shot framing. Compelling and very sad throughout.Was this review helpful to you?
Go in blind please
"All life must be treasured.""The world beyond the exit... Is it heaven? Or could it be hell?"
Better than it looks, I won't say anything but going in blind would be best. At first I watched it ironically (idk who would watch this unironically tbh 💀) but ended up actually really enjoying it.
I recommend. A bit degenerate sometimes though so be warned.
If you want to watch this with English subs, just contact me
Was this review helpful to you?
Interesting but hard watch
I had a lot of doubts going into this but I was pleasantly surprised that it was actually pretty interesting. The whole porn part is not there to be pleasing or something, instead it is intentionally unsettling, which I am happier about than the alternative. Very surreal and trippy, goes some absolutely crazy places and really fucks with your mind, I still feel a bit dazed and confused writing this review. Packed full of symbolism and philosophical dialogue to the point where it bordered on being pretentious but I'm glad it didn't cross that line for me.Some well executed commentary on freedom, trauma, taboo, feminism/antifeminism, repression, and hypocracy that almost gets lost in Sono trying to make something really artistic.
I recommend... with caution.
Was this review helpful to you?
An adaptation which adds one good part but is overall worse than its sources
Decent movie which I feel would've benefited from a longer runtime to develop the characters further. There were several missed opportunites with the source material with some characters being much more interesting in the source material, also adding to the emotional punch of the story.Some great scenes though always love to see Kitano too I just feel what was here could've been elevated with more time for plot points to breathe and characters to grow on you.
Was this review helpful to you?
20th Century Boys 1: Beginning of the End
0 people found this review helpful
A terrible adaptation but a fun time if you've already read the manga
A terrible adaptation of one of my favourite manga series, but if you have read the manga before you are in for a fun time. The story is so confusing it's almost comical, so much material, both characterisation and central mystery, is glossed over, and it would be impossible to comprehend without the manga. Although, I would be lying if I said I didn't have a blast watching it.If you haven't read the manga already, please do, it's excellent, please don't watch this trainwreck first.
Was this review helpful to you?
Slow, meditative, and compelling movie about two depressed lonely assassins.
Extremely pretty cinematography makes this a treat to watch. Made the most of a low budget and has an awesome ending. Dialogue is sparse but great when it's there.Reminds me a little of if 428: Shibuya Scramble and Wong Kar-wai had a baby, not as good as 428 but it's hard to beat perfection.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
What the heck did I just watch....
OMG another bad egg on the pile. Haha...Where should I start...
Story about Lu Qi Ming (QM) & Ye Xiao Ou (XO). 2 University friends that still decide to become roommates after graduation. The story start where QM died & angel visit him, offer him a chance to make up what he's missing before he died. Then the next scene happen like nothing happen, I mean just like QM never died in the first place...
Unfortunately I can't really tell u what the heck is this about. In the end, I just jump watch it to the end, cause I just can't take the nonsense anymore.
All the bad things that happen:
Unclear plot, bad acting, bad editing, bad sound.... Ugh....
Overall just skip this one and watch the other...
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Watch this for 2024 MDL Watch Challenge. Let's discuss movie then...Story about Kawana Tsugumi (KT) who meet with the senior, Ayukawa Itsuki (AI), she had crush on in high school. KT and AI happen to meet again at a work-related drinking session. And when they meet, KT shock to find out that AI now is paralyzed and have to using wheel chair. But after some time pass they communicate with each other, KT find out her feeling for AI haven't waver down & she still has her feeling for AI. At the same time, AI also charmed by KT optimistic character.
Built up the courage, KT finally confess her feeling for AI. At first AI had doubt for their relationship, cause he didn't want to be a burden for KT. But in the end AI accept KT feeling & they start their relationship. KT & AI is very happy in their little bubble. But trouble start when KT tell about their relationship to her parent. KT's parent who love her, though AI not a suitable match for their daughter & they try to break KT & AI relationship.
So, what will become of KT & AI relationship...? Will KT & AI give up on their relationship or will it continue to the happy end...?
That's pretty much the story without giving too much spoiler. Now let's talk about what I like & don't.
What I like:
+ The realistic life about disabled people
+ Good actor/ess. I can feel their feeling; their happiness, their desperation...
What I don't like:
- Feel lack of something. Maybe cause of the duration. Should watch for the drama version then. Haha...
Overall this a good movie to watch
Was this review helpful to you?
