Recently seen movies #111

Red Peony Gambler 8 (Japan, 1972) – 4,5/5

Red Peony Gambler receives a worthy conclusion in this eighth instalment. While the previous film suffered from one-dimentional characters and flat storyline, this part is the best written film in the entire series. It starts off rather simple, but gets better and better scene by scene as the themes of honor and duty get more complicated. The big fight at the end is perhaps the best action scene in the entire series, followed by an even better ending shot. The supporting cast features Bunta Sugawara and Hiroki Matsukata in honorable good guy roles.

Recently seen movies #110

Red Peony Gambler 7 (Japan, 1971) – 2,5/5

The series made a turn to worse after the pitch-perfect Red Peony Gambler 5. The negative development continues in the sevent film, although it’s not obvious from the great opening sequence. But the rest of the film is a routine effort. With Fuji, Tsuruta and director Tai Kato it’s needless to say it’s still a very decent film, but the execution and storyline just aren’t lively enough to raise the film above average. A the highlight – appart from the beginning – is actually a very funny comedy sequence. It does involve Wakayama, but he’s not even main clown. Very surprising indeed.

Recently seen movies #109

Sogo Ishii – Punk Years 1976 – 1983

I decided to group these Sogo Ishii reviews into one post. Transformer has released two Sogo Ishii box sets in Japan, and while I currently can’t afford to buy the second one, I did manage to find money for the first one. The set itself is a landmark in dvd history. 6 movies on 6 dvds (including extras on each disc), plus bonus dvd with over three hours of extra features (such as ’Ishii Sogo & Bacillus Army Project’ last live concert), a 160 page booklet, original soundtrack cd for Asia Strikes Back, and a film cell. The set features all of Ishii’s films till 1983, except the Panic in High School remake (1978 ) and Burst City (1982). These movies are not included as other studios own them. I will review them later.

The original Panic in High School (1976) is an 8mm short clocking at 16 minutes. A student goes insane and comes to school with a shotgun. Ishii shows the development of the situation and the arrival of police, but doesn’t include characterization. The almost complete lack of dialogue further supports the ”news report” type of feeling.Technically the pic is low grade, but packs a lot of interest value as the starting point of one of Japan’s most remarkable directors. Ishii was 19 years old when he directed this debut film. He later remade the story into a feature length film in 1978 with Yukihiro Sawada, under Nikkatsu’s finance.

In his second film, Isolation of 1 Divided by 880 000 (1977), Ishii triples the length (43 min) but also improves quality on several areas. The biggest surprise, however, is Johann Sebastian Bach, who finds his way into the speakers time after time and refuses to make way for the punk mastro’s more typical tunes. But Ishii has ear for classical too, as he syncs music with the visuals while following a crippled young man living alone in big city. At times it feels more of a collage of images than a traditional film, but it’s an impressive and rather beautiful piece nevertheless.

Attack! Hakata Street Gangs (1978 ) is a feature length Ishii’s film that is more facinating in depicting its own time than as a story driven movie. The film doesn’t shine technically, but does offer an interesting, almost documentaristic view of a Japan that is not so often seen in movies. While realistic gang films are nothing new, directors like Kinji Fukasaku usually tell more cinematic stories set in higher levels of society. Ishii’s camera descends to the grassroot level and shows the small time street gangs that operate in the less wealthy neighborhoods in smaller cities far away from Tokyo or Osaka.

Perhaps Ishii’s most important film and one of the key Japanese movies of the 80’s, Crazy Thunder Road (1980) is a punk tuned love song for all the crazy bikers and rebels. A motorcycle gang is about to close down as the time of wild riders is considered to be over. But the young hothead Jin (Tatsuo Yamada) disagrees. He’s ready to fight the whole world alone. Looking at the quality of the film as well as some action scenes that put bigger studios productions into shame, it’s almost impossible to belive this was a film course graduation work by Ishii. The Toei executives found Ishii’s 16 mm work impressive enough to blow it on 35 mm and give it a well deserved cinema run.

After this cult classic Sogo Ishii returns to short form with a 33 minute chase movie Shuffle (1981). A killer runs from the police, and the viewer runs with him. Especially the beginning can be a bit hard to endure as the camera is moving at the same speed as the actors. Some breaks are offered in form of flash back scenes. The 16 gone 35 mm visual output is mostly black and white, with the visuals corresponding to the characters’ physical state and feelings (the image getting more twisted and blurred as they get more exhausted). Not an easy film, but an interesting and at times very hard hitting experiment.

Closer to a 30 minute music video than a movie, Asia Strikes Back: Remix Live Version (1983 / 2005) takes place in an underground military base where a small team of soldiers with psychic abilities continue their fight. Liking Asia Strikes Back comes down almost entirely to the viewer’s musical preferences. Unfortunately I like neither the original soundtrack nor the 2005 remix live version. Nevertheless, once again it’s obvious Ishii is a follower of his own path and not quite like any other filmmaker. Notice that there’s no dialogue in the film, only on screen texts in English.

Verdict:

Panic in High School (1976) – 2,5/5
Isolation of 1 Divided by 880 000 (1977) – 3,5/5
Attack! Hakata Street Gangs (1978 ) – 2,5/5
Crazy Thunder Road (1980) – 4/5
Shuffle (1981) – 2,5/5
Asia Strikes Back: Remix Live Version (1983 / 2005) – 1,5/5

Recently seen movies #108

It’s Only Talk (Japan, 2005) – 4,5/5

Ryuichi Hiroki has been one of the most interesting Japanese directors for years, although many of his films have been flawed. But he seems to be developing constantly. Vibrator was like a follow up to Tokyo gomi onna. It’s Only Talk is a fully mature, superior version of Vibrator. Hiroki’s razor sharp eye (the cinematography) is still here, but now also soundtrack and characters are perfectly subtle. The film’s opening is so amazingly good that there’s a risk of the actual film not being able to live up to it, but it does, almost fully. Shinobu Terajima, who was already very good in Vibrator, gives an amazingly good performance in the lead role. Very few actresses dare to be this real in front of the camera.

Recently seen movies #107

Heavenly Forest (Japan, 2006) – 3/5

A cliché ridden sentimental platonic romance. There’s little to set this film appart from countless other similar products. Except one thing; Aoi Miyazaki. She’s easily one of the best actresses in Japan today – has been for nearly 10 years already. She’s not giving one of her best performances in Heavenly Forest, but she does look and act cuter than ever before. An absolutely charming presence that alone saves the entire movie.

Recently seen movies #106

Graveyard of Honor (Japan, 1975) – 3/5

The true story of gangster Rikio Ishikawa (Tetsuya Watari), brought to screen by Kinji Fukasaku. As expected from the director, it’s a hectic piece of realistic (and violent) yakuza cinema. In the beginning the fast pace threatens to exhaust the viewer also, but thankfully the film slows down during the impressive second half. Tetsuya Watari is convincing in the lead role as a man even despised by other criminals. Yumi Takigawa, fresh off from the convent (School of the Holy Beast, 1974) plays his poor girlfriend. Nikkatsu starlet Meika Seri – perhaps best remembered as an Osaka prostitute in Noboru Tanaka’s She Beast Market (1974) – has a small role as a… prostitute from Osaka.

Recently seen movies #105

Cops vs. Thugs (Japan, 1975) – 4/5

Fukasaku’s hard hitting cop / yakuza film follows a corrupt detective (Bunta Sugawara) who believes the only way to handle the yakuza is to play by their rules. When a new, honest superior (Tatsuo Umemiya) is put in charge the city turns into a battleground. Terrific film that dives deeps into the world it portrays. The characters are strong and Fukasaku’s often frenzied directing well balanced with the story elements. Pinky Violence queen Reiko Ike, who also appeared in Proxy War (1973) and Graveyard of Honor (1975), plays one of the film’s few (and small) female roles.

Recently seen movies #104

Shindo (Japan, 2007) – 2/5

Akira Saso’s manga about an unwilling 13 year old piano genius and her less talented 19 year old friend made into a live action film. The results are somewhat uninspired although not a complete failure. The main star, Riko Narumi, is the most interesting thing about the film. She was nothing short of terrific under Jun Ichikawa’s direction in How to Become Myself, but here she’s a bit underwhelming most of the time. It’s not entirely her fault; the character isn’t especially well written (somewhat disappointing considering the film was scripted by Kosuke Mukai), and director Koji Hagiuda shows little talent all around. Also, it would be too much to ask from a 14 year old actress to carry the film all by herself.

Recently seen TV shows #1

Sukeban Deka – Season 1 (Japan, 1985) – 4,5/5

A delinquent girl detective (Yuki Saito) infiltrates corrupt high schools and fights crime with a steel breaking yo-yo. It’s obvious from the first episode why Sukeban Deka is the biggest Japanese cult TV show of the 80’s. The silly premise is played with rather straight face, only adding a kick ass soundtrack, cute lead, and an infinite amount of style. Quite possibly the coolest thing television has ever produced.