#21  
Old 06-14-2008, 06:18 PM
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Originally Posted by ChronoGrl View Post
You crazy Canadians. You need to get Netflix up there. :p
We have Zip.ca...it's pretty much the same thing.

But their computer fucked up and they couldn't accept my payment anymore, and rather abruptly closed my account. I wouldn't go back.
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  #22  
Old 07-03-2008, 07:05 PM
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So I just watched Imprint

SERIOUSLY over-the-top trailer:

http://eiga.com/official/imprint/trailers/qt_1000k.mov

This film was made to be part of the Masters of Horror series, so it serves more as a short film more than an actual full length feature (63 minutes).

Imprint delves into the realm of whimsical horror, telling the tale of an American searching for his long lost love among an island of "demons and whores." To my surprise, the film was done in English, leading to, I believe, some questionable acting but overall I come away from the film feeling pretty satisfied.

Miike definitely has a way to create artistic horror. This film has a torture scene that is so incredibly well directed that you can't help but cringe at its utter beauty (with a nod to the pornographic nature of horror by alluding to sadomasochism and degradation). The movie starts a little slow, but it is the painfully meticulously structured images that compel you through it. Once again I am reminded of Lynch, using uncomfortable sexual themes to test the audience's endurance and remind us all of our own voyeuristic tendencies as well as graphic twist that would make Eraserhead proud. I am also reminded of Kubric's Eyes Wide Shut in its own regard, being highly stylized and tortured, with a bit more shock horror absurdity.

The movie is definitely flawed, but I do believe that its strengths outweigh its weaknesses. Does anyone else have thoughts on Imprint?

Takashi Miiki is easily becoming my favorite horror director.


Edit: So apparently even though Miike did this film for Showtime's Master's of Horror it went unaired, most likely because it was too explicit (go figure; a horror show being explicit).
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Last edited by ChronoGrl; 07-03-2008 at 08:34 PM.
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  #23  
Old 08-08-2008, 07:52 PM
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So I just watched the original One Missed Call.

It was... Ok. For a derivative, archetypal JA ghost movie, it was pretty average. It hit all of the plot points including Pissed Off Dead Girl, Mysterious Past of Pissed Off Dead Girl, Exploration of Mysterious Past of Pissed Off Dead Girl (incidentally, explored by another girl with a mysterious past... And a man).

There were some legitimately creepy moments. I have to admit it; I even screamed at some point. It's no surprise that Miike was able to create genuine atmosphere.

HOWEVER, it suffered from the typical pitfalls of derivative JA ghost movies... The Dead Girl's Mysterious Past is a bit contrived... There's some sort of LINK between her and the Investigator (which ultimately doesn't make sense)... The movie could have ended MULTIPLE times before it did and, by the time it WAS finally over... It didn't really make sense.

I honestly did not feel as though there were a whole lot of Miike in this film. Then again, maybe that was the point... he might have been trying to make a pop horror movie. And, in that regard he succeeded. There were some truly creepy and memorable parts to it which, I can only imagine were completely botched when adapted to the American Screen.

But I feel as though I have committed myself to be a Miike fan. And while this didn't necessarily invoke his other ventures, it was not bad. I give it a B/B+


Anyone else... Thoughts on One Missed Call and Miike's divergence from his typical exploitative and torturous style?
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Last edited by ChronoGrl; 08-08-2008 at 08:09 PM.
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  #24  
Old 08-08-2008, 09:13 PM
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Originally Posted by ChronoGrl View Post
Anyone else... Thoughts on One Missed Call and Miike's divergence from his typical exploitative and torturous style?
I think he wanted to show people he could do a "regular" horror film just as good as his peers (and make some money off it to finance his more unusual pictures).
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  #25  
Old 08-08-2008, 09:46 PM
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I haven't seen the movie yet but I just ordered a copy from amazon (you talked me into it ChronoGrl.:D What I've read with the tag lines and synopsis, it seems to be pretty disturbing. Looking forward to capture some good stills.
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  #26  
Old 08-09-2008, 06:33 AM
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I think he wanted to show people he could do a "regular" horror film just as good as his peers (and make some money off it to finance his more unusual pictures).
Yeah, I was thinking that, too... What are your thoughts on it, Des? Do you think it holds up with JA ghost genre?

In regards to Miike experimenting with this genre, I think that The Box was more successful than One Missed Call.



Deep4est - If you like JA ghost stories and enjoyed One Missed Call, pick up Three... Extremes. It's a collection of three short JA horror movies. Miike directs that third (which, incidentally, is my favorite of the three), which is another experiment in the JA ghost genre. I thought it was great.

The first short of the bunch I think is a little weak (it's Hong Kong horror, though, and with my experience, Hong Kong movies are VERY slow unless they are kung fu), but the second short is by the Korean director who did Oldboy. The film is beautifully gory and macabre.
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  #27  
Old 08-09-2008, 12:20 PM
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Originally Posted by ChronoGrl View Post
Yeah, I was thinking that, too... What are your thoughts on it, Des? Do you think it holds up with JA ghost genre?

In regards to Miike experimenting with this genre, I think that The Box was more successful than One Missed Call.
The Box was good but I really think it was overshadowed by the other two offerings in the 3 Extremes... lineup. I liked One Missed Call and while it didn't bring anything new to the table the story was told very well and was much more solid than a lot of those J ghost flicks.
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  #28  
Old 08-27-2008, 01:27 AM
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miike is a hot sick man but i still love his works . ill go with the bird people of china and zebraman.
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