any good japanese movies out there?

The_Collection · Post by **The_Collection** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 8:48 pm

i was thinking "if anime is good, maybe the live action movies are good too...", so, does any one know of any good live action japanese movies that are worth buying?

(dont say you dont know any then give me chinese movies. i hate that)

DarkPrinceOtaku · Post by **DarkPrinceOtaku** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 9:01 pm

''battle royale'' a must buy!!!

Kajino Rei · Post by **Kajino Rei** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 9:13 pm

ANYTHING by Kurosawa Akira or Akira Kurosawa as he's known in the west.

His most popular film is: Seven Samurai

Other films:

High and Low
Ikiru
Dreams
Red Beard
Rashomon
The Hidden Fortress
Yojimbo
Sanjuro

All these are top notch. He was and always will be one of the greatest film makes of Japan and all time.
Did you know "The Hidden Fortress" was the inspiration behind George Lucas's "Star Wars"?

Kurosawa is best...

Coffee 54 · Post by **Coffee 54** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 9:40 pm

I believe the first Godzilla movie has been re-released in its original Japanese verison. Subs, no Raymond Burr, and thirty minutes longer. I really want to see this movie.

Kajino Rei · Post by **Kajino Rei** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 9:45 pm

Coffee 54

I believe the first Godzilla movie has been re-released in its original Japanese verison. Subs, no Raymond Burr, and thirty minutes longer. I really want to see this movie.

*gasps*

You don't say! By Jove this is great news.

Do you know if other Godzilla movies are also scheduled for a re-release?

Dare I say Mothra?

Oi...

Coffee 54 · Post by **Coffee 54** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 9:52 pm

Kajino Rei wrote:Coffee 54
I believe the first Godzilla movie has been re-released in its original Japanese verison. Subs, no Raymond Burr, and thirty minutes longer. I really want to see this movie.
*gasps*

You don't say! By Jove this is great news.

Do you know if other Godzilla movies are also scheduled for a re-release?

Dare I say Mothra?

Oi...

Right now just Godzilla. It's being done by Rialto Pictures, and so far just Gozilla.

Zarxrax · Post by **Zarxrax** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 9:54 pm

STACY: Attack of the Schoolgirl Zombies.

Best.
Movie.
EVER.

Kajino Rei · Post by **Kajino Rei** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 10:11 pm

Thanks Coffee 54 for the info, I'm a little sad now but something is better than nothing.

PS: KUROSAWA.

Dr. Derpface, J.D. · Post by **Dr. Derpface, J.D.** » Sun Sep 05, 2004 12:32 am

Gonna echo what's been said in here already. You can't go wrong with Kurosawa. Takeshi Kitano (sp?) would be another good choice.[/list]

Tom the Fish · Post by **Tom the Fish** » Sun Sep 05, 2004 8:10 am

Kore-eda's After Life, while quit and conemplative, is one of my all-time favorite films. As prviosuly recommended, you can't go wrong with Akira Kurosawa, but if you want to try some creepy horror, be sure to check out Kiyoshi Kurosawa's works such as Cure, Pulse, Seance and Charisma.

If you're looking for off-beat and disturbing, Takashi Miike's work usually works that way, with Visitor Q, Gozu and Ichi the Killer. He's also made yakuza films such as Dead or Alive and Fudoh. Then there's his horror-parody-musical Happiness of the Katakuris. Finally, he's also made the breathtaking Birdpeople of China.

Next, I highly recommend Takashi Kitano's movies. Hana-bi is a masterpiece that can't decide if its a yakuza film or a love story. All his other movies also come highly recommended.

Ozu is a master of the banality of the salaryman and the communities of Tokyo in the fifties. While all of his films are masterpieces, Tokyo Story is far and above his best.

If you like the old black and white samurai films, check out Samurai Fiction, both a modern-day parody and tribute.

One fo the best action films I've seen is The Returner. While it steals from every hollywood action film from the Terminator to ET, it stays wholly original.

Ryuhei Kitamura is probably Japan's hotest new director. He's made the slice-and-dice cult hit Versus, the female samurai period piece Azumi (a favortie of mine) and he's currently working on the last Godzilla film (akin to, I'd say, Tarintino making a Bond flick).

Another one of my favorite Japanese films, while slow and thoughtful (honestly, all of my favorite movies are that way), is Eureka. Unfortunatly, the distributors for the US print went out of business. No one has any idea where the prints are and its unlikely it will see a US DVD release anytime soon.

Finally, keep an eye out for Jam Films. It is seven short films by Japan's hottest directors (or maybe it's eight, I forget). Everyone of the short films is terrific.

I'm pretty sure most of what I mentioned is available here in the states.

Tom