Comments on: Best Japanese Films of 2007 (1): Sakuran http://www.japannavigator.com/2008/01/26/best-japanese-films-of-2007-sakuran/ Guide to Japanese culture by Ad Blankestijn. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:02:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Ad Blankestijn http://www.japannavigator.com/2008/01/26/best-japanese-films-of-2007-sakuran/#comment-505 Ad Blankestijn Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:47:40 +0000 http://www.japannavigator.com/2008/01/26/best-japanese-films-of-2007-1/#comment-505 Thank you for your comment, logboy! You are right: the film is contrived or rather manneristic, but that was exactly the attraction for me: the fabulous colors, the composition of the scenes, the weirdness of having a bowl of goldfish above a gate, the ultra-contemporary designs on kimono, walls, ikebana... and it is pop and manga-esque and ultra-light... and all that is exactly what appealed to me! It is a film that has never been made before, very innovative in its treatment of tradition! And Anna Tsuchiya, while having her limitations, is very well cast in this role (as are the other actors and actrices, by the way). Perhaps it is my post-post-modern mind, but I prefer such tongue-in-cheek, bright flashes to plodding seriousness... By the way, what is your favorite Japanese film of 2007? Thank you for your comment, logboy!

You are right: the film is contrived or rather manneristic, but that was exactly the attraction for me: the fabulous colors, the composition of the scenes, the weirdness of having a bowl of goldfish above a gate, the ultra-contemporary designs on kimono, walls, ikebana… and it is pop and manga-esque and ultra-light… and all that is exactly what appealed to me! It is a film that has never been made before, very innovative in its treatment of tradition! And Anna Tsuchiya, while having her limitations, is very well cast in this role (as are the other actors and actrices, by the way). Perhaps it is my post-post-modern mind, but I prefer such tongue-in-cheek, bright flashes to plodding seriousness…

By the way, what is your favorite Japanese film of 2007?

]]> By: logboy http://www.japannavigator.com/2008/01/26/best-japanese-films-of-2007-sakuran/#comment-491 logboy Mon, 28 Jan 2008 08:23:02 +0000 http://www.japannavigator.com/2008/01/26/best-japanese-films-of-2007-1/#comment-491 something wasn't quite right for me, in sakuran... felt a little contrived, with too many aspects being explored too consciously. loved the look of it all, the story was very good, but when things are being slipped through rather than encapsulated in a more relaxed form, the film takes on a bit of a teenage tone rather than a matured, relaxed drama. yes, i've an anna tsuchiya fetish too, but she's not enough to carry a film, perhaps... she's enough to get me to watch it (save 'dororo', at least at this point in time) but she's not enough to bring vibrant colours into something not be noticed before all the other aspects being crammed in... nice film, i would think more people would like it if they saw it stateside, but not my favourite of the year - not by a long way. something wasn’t quite right for me, in sakuran… felt a little contrived, with too many aspects being explored too consciously. loved the look of it all, the story was very good, but when things are being slipped through rather than encapsulated in a more relaxed form, the film takes on a bit of a teenage tone rather than a matured, relaxed drama. yes, i’ve an anna tsuchiya fetish too, but she’s not enough to carry a film, perhaps… she’s enough to get me to watch it (save ‘dororo’, at least at this point in time) but she’s not enough to bring vibrant colours into something not be noticed before all the other aspects being crammed in… nice film, i would think more people would like it if they saw it stateside, but not my favourite of the year - not by a long way.

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