Has anyone seen this "Asian horror masterpiece" by Takashi Miike?
If you haven't, consider yourself lucky. It's slow moving, tedious shit with an anemic plot and an unsatisfying conclusion. Plus it's not scary.
>>1, you defintely hit the nail on the head there.
My dvd collection is almost a 100% asian films, quite a few of 'em have very violent and disturbing scenes. Something that gives me my share of funny looks whenever somebody catches me watching them. My sanity aside, Audition isn't just horror. It's horrible. Like you said, it's slow, tedious, the plot was anemic. Add to that confusing.
But then again, I have't really enjoyed any Takashi Miike films. He sorta puts violent scenes in his films just so he can say that it "pushes the boundary of cinema". But in reality, it's just a bore fest. A fellow japanese director, Toshiaki Toyoda critisized Miike and urged him to do a "proper film".
If you really want to enjoy japanese cinema, grab anything by Takeshi Kitano or the afforementioned Toyoda. I guarantee you, their films only put the violent scenes in context of a usually brilliant story. I strongly recommend "Hana-bi", "Brother", "Aoi Haru" or "9 Souls".
OP here.
I've been pretty interested in Takeshi Kitano since seeing him in Battle Royale (basically the best thing about that movie) but I've been too lazy to get any of his films. Any specifics I should pick up?
And the only other Miike film I've seen is Happiness of the Katakuris, which was basically the best thing ever. People tell me Ichi the Killer's good also, So I'm hoping Audition was just a fluke (of shittiness).
Hmm...Ichi the killer just about as violent as Audition. But since it was originally a manga, I suppose it's just sticking to the source material. I'm sorry to say that Audition is NOT a fluke. "City of Lost Souls" is another Miike stinker. "Tremble at the combined might of Japanese and Hong Kong Cinema", they'd say. I found it hard to stay awake...
As for the Kitano films, please try "Kikujiro", "Hana-bi", "Brother" or if you want samurai action, his film of "Zatoichi"....the film that Miike also wanted to make, but lost out to Kitano.